Kurdish, Arab forces advance in Tel Rifaat
Al Aan reporter Jenan Moussa says that the Kurdish YPG militia and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a coalition of Kurdish, Arab, Turkoman, Armenian and Assyrian militias, have advanced in the town of Tel Rifaat in northern Syria.
Some opposition groups have pulled out of the town and Turkish shelling on Kurdish targets around Tel Rifaat is much less today, Moussa reports.
Russia to continue air strikes around Aleppo even if ceasefire is agreed
Reuters is quoting Interfax as saying that Russia intends to continue its air strikes around Aleppo even if a ceasefire is agreed.
Samples confirm Islamic State used mustard gas in Iraq: Reuters
IS militants attacked Kurdish forces in Iraq with mustard gas last year, the first known use of chemical weapons in Iraq since the fall of Saddam Hussein, a diplomat has told Reuters.
A source at the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) confirmed to Reuters that laboratory tests had come back positive for the sulfur mustard, after around 35 Kurdish troops were sickened on the battlefield last August. The OPCW will not identify who used the mustard gas, but the diplomat told Reuters that the results showed the agent had been used by IS militants.
Turkey issues new threats to Kurdish militias in northern Syria
The BBC has more on the threats made this morning by Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu to the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia in Aleppo province.
Davutoglu said that if the YPG advanced again towards the Syrian border town of Azaz, "they will see the harshest reaction. We will not allow Azaz to fall."
Davutoglu also pledged to make the Syrian Menagh air base "unusable" if the militia did not withdraw from the area, and that the YPG would not be allowed to move east of its Afrin region or west of the Euphrates.
Davutoglu's comments came as Turkey ignored international calls and shelled parts of northern Syria again today.
Militants entered from Turkey, tried to enter Syria's Tel Rifaat: RIA Novosti
As the war of words between Russia and Turkey continues to rage with both countries accusing the other of supporting various groups in Syria, RIA Novosti is citing a "militia source" as saying that 300 fighters and trucks with ammunition entered Syria from Turkey and tried to enter the town of Tel Rifaat in northern Aleppo province.
RIA did not specify to which militia its source belonged -- a pro-government Syrian militia or the Kurdish YPG militia.
"Reinforcements were sent from Turkey to Tel Rifaat. Some 300 militants and ammo. Air strikes were carried out on columns traveling from Turkey on a segment of highway from Azaz to Tel Rifaat. Most of the reinforcements were destroyed. Some might reach the town," the source was quoted as saying.
Moscow and Damascus have accused Turkey of sending militants, weapons and ammunition into Syria to aid rebels, which Turkey has denied.
Ask Turkey about its plans for Syria: Kremlin spokesman
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov advised reporters to ask the Turkish Foreign Ministry about Ankara's plans for Syria, RIA Novosti reports.
Peskov made his comments in response to a request for comments on Moscow's response to reports that Turkish soldiers entered Syria.
"You should ask the Turkish Foreign Ministry and the Turkish Defense Ministry," Peskov said.
Druze in Israeli-occupied Golan Heights rally in support of Syria's Assad
Druze in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights town of Buq'ata have rallied in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Most Druze in Buq'ata, like in the rest of the parts of the Golan Heights occupied by Israel, have retained their Syrian citizenship.
MSF: Idlib hospital attack 'appears deliberate'
Medicins Sans Frontieres say that this morning's missile strike on a medical facility in Syria's Idlib province appeared to have been deliberate.
It is unclear if Russian or Syrian government planes were responsible for the attack.
Destruction of Syria hospital leaves 40,000 without medical services: MSF
MSF in Syria has said that the destruction in a missile attack this morning of an MSF-supported hospital in Idlib province leaves around 40,000 people without access to medical services in an active war zone.
The hospital was hit by two missiles within a short space of time, MSF say.