Turkey Rules Out French Presence on Syrian Border as Fighting Rages

From @jasonditz 

Heavy fighting continues to rage in northern Syria’s Aleppo Governorate, as Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) forces attack Kurdish SDF forces. The most intense fighting has been reported southeast of Manbij, on the approach to the Tishreen Dam.

The SDF reported that the most serious fighting occurred between Friday evening and late Saturday morning. During this time 23 SNA fighters and 3 SDF fighters were killed. Additionally, 36 SNA fighters were reported wounded. Turkey supplied air support for the SNA offensive, but ultimately the SDF claimed to have repelled the attacks.

Turkey also used heavy artillery positioned in the area to fire on the area around Tishreen Dam, where SDF forces have set up multiple positions. One of two major dams on the Euphrates River, the Tishreen Dam provides substantial electricity in northeastern Syria and would be a strategic goal for the SNA.