An ISIS suicide car bomb has targeted the town of al-Rai this afternoon, a town recently captured by Turkish-backed Syrian rebels. Exact death tolls are as yet unclear, but several are reported to have been slain, and at least a dozen wounded, including a number of children.
The casualties are uncertain because unlike most such incidents in Syria, the victims weren’t taken to local hospitals, but rather were evacuated north into Turkey, where they are receiving treatment. Turkish officials have not offered an official statement yet.
Al-Rai was captured in the Turkish march south toward al-Bab, a city which is still under ISIS control, albeit contested. Turkish officials have said their intention is to capture al-Bab and then move eastward into Manbij, a major city controlled by the Kurdish YPG.
Turkish officials reported that ISIS also fired an unspecified “chemical” rocket at rebels in the same area outside of al-Rai, and that 22 rebels had been exposed to the chemical, though indications are that there weren’t serious casualties in the incident.
I do not know on what basis is Al-Bab contested. Turkey with the Syrian groups that joined them want to secure Al-Bab by kicking ISIS out and preventing US supported Kurds coming in. Turkey does not intend to stay in Syria after peace has been achieved. Syrian Army also does not mind Turks/Syrian rebels, but can deal with Kurds ONLY if they abandon US project of nation building by capturing a non-Kurdish town. So far — objectives of all three is same. Kurds will have to make up their mind. They expected Hillary win and in anticipation formed an all female batallion for taking Al-Bab. They already bragged about taking “their land” even though the residents dreaded the ethnic cleansing that usually followed after US/Kurdish advance. Turkey and Syria share common goal of no new nation and no permanent Kosovo-style trip-wire in the region.
There is only one issue — eliminate ISIS and no Kurdish control of the town. Both Turkey and Syrian Army must ensure that. If Kurds — and there are groups allied with the Army want to help — there is no problem. The only problem is if Obama continues eith nation building plan and saddles Trump with it.