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Syrian Locals Grieve as Turkey-Syrian Cease-fire Collapses

Heather Murdock

   QAMSESHLI, SYRIA - A smattering of celebratory bullets lit up the sky
   like fireworks in towns in northeastern Syria on Thursday night, but by
   Friday afternoon the mood was more somber.

   The terms of the five-day cease-fire were becoming more clear. The
   Turkish pause in hostilities was contingent upon Kurdish-led Syrian
   Democratic Forces moving farther back from the border, which SDF forces
   have said they will not do.

   On Friday evening, the SDF released a statement declaring the
   cease-fire had failed.

   "Attacks with artillery fire, tanks, heavy weapons and airstrikes
   continued nonstop," reads the statement. "As legitimate self-defense,
   the SDF fighters retaliated all the attacks."

   Early reports of shelling and battles in border towns were later
   verified when the wounded arrived at hospitals outside the battle zone.

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