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17 dead as Turkish helicopters hit pro-government forces in Syria’s Afrin

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Turkish military helicopters, operating as part of an unauthorized campaign in Syria’s Afrin, have reportedly targeted a group of pro-government forces defending the northern region.

The attack, first reported by the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights on Friday, was carried out by three choppers in a village north of Afrin, in northwestern parts of the Arab country.

According to the Observatory, 14 of the dead belonged to the pro-Damascus forces that had entered Afrin last week to defend the region against Turkey’s ‘Operation Olive Branch,’ which is targeted at militants from the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) controlling Afrin.

Earlier on Thursday, Turkey’s armed forces confirmed that at least eight Turkish soldiers were killed in the conflict, while another 13 were injured.

The Observatory said only three of the casualties were YPG militants, but Turkey’s state-run Anadolu news agency put the number at nine.

Turkey views the YPG as the Syrian branch of the militant Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) that has been fighting for an autonomous region inside Turkey since 1984.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly called for Afrin to be cleared of “terrorists.”

Denying reports of widespread civilian casualties, Turkey insists that it has “neutralized” over 2,000 people it calls “terrorists” since the onset of the military operation in January.

More than 390,000 civilians trapped in the region are said to be struggling with severe shortages of food and medical supplies.

Syria has slammed the Turkish military intervention as a violation of its sovereignty.

Clashes, helicopters, tear gas as tens of thousands take to streets of Egypt

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BQG8M7KCcAAn6TCMan holds Quran and cross, symbolising unity at where people chant in support of the military & police

Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Egypt on Friday, following the army’s call for an end to “violence and terrorism.” Fatalities and injuries were reported as clashes broke out between supporters and opponents of ousted President Morsi.

Over 100 people were reportedly injured across the country, as Egypt’s two opposing political camps took to the streets. At least five people were killed in the city of Alexandria, according to the Interior ministry.

As numerous rallies took place across the troubled nation, thousands of pro-military protesters gathered in Cairo’s Tahrir Square in support of the army-backed government. A number of high ranking police officers joined the protesters, Ahram online reported.

Demonstrators carried posters with photographs of army chief and defense minister General Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, who on Wednesday called for Egyptian citizens to take to the streets to give the army a mandate to fight “terrorism and violence.”

As helicopters flew low, protesters chanted slogans such as, “This night there will be no more Muslim Brotherhood,” and “The army, the police, and the people are one hand.”