Turkish Troops Accused of Using White Phosphorus and Other Illegal Munitions

Kurdish troops battling Turkish forces in northeast Syria are claiming the Syrian army is using illegal munitions including white phosphorus and napalm. According to the French news agency AFP, Kurdish officials charge the Turks have been met by unexpected resistance from the Kurdish fighters and accordingly, have resorted to using the internationally-banned munitions. There has been no independent corroboration of the allegations. The charges stem from fighting in the border town of Ras-al-Ain. In the week since the American forces turned their backs to the Turkish troops preparing to move against Kurdish fighters, some 300,000 Syrians have joined the ranks of the displaced while “dozens” of civilians are reported to be among those killed by President Erdogan’s soldiers. International experts are being asked to verify the use of banned weapons.