Middle East & North Africa

DAMASCUS, Oct 13 (NNN-SANA) – At least 30 civilians have so far been killed, in northern Syria since Turkey unleashed a military offensive against the Kurdish militias on Wednesday, a war monitor reported.

The civilians were killed as a result of “random” Turkish shelling on several areas in northern Syria, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The Britain-based watchdog group said, the humanitarian situation is worsening, noting that the Turkish assault could lead to a “humanitarian catastrophe.”

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Oct 13 (NNN-SPA) – Saudi Arabia announced, on Saturday, the decision to receive additional U.S. troops.

The decision was part of the directives of the Saudi King, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and the historical ties between the two countries, the report quoted the Defence Ministry as saying.

The additional reinforcement of troops and defence equipment, aims at maintaining regional security, and face any attempts that threaten stability in the region, and the global economy, the ministry said.

TEHRAN, Oct 13 (NNN-IRNA) – Iran has the capacity to help settle the issues between Turkey and Syria, Ramin Mehmanparast, an Iranian diplomat and former spokesman of the Iranian Foreign Ministry, said, with reference to recent conflicts and military operation by Turkey in northern Syria.

On Wednesday, Turkey launched a military campaign in northern Syria to eliminate the Kurdish forces of the Syrian Democratic Forces and its umbrella of the People’s Protection Units, which are both deemed as terrorists by Ankara.

TUNIS, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- Polling stations in Tunisia's 27 constituencies opened at 8 a.m. (0700 GMT) local time on Sunday to start the second round of presidential election.

Kais Saied, an independent candidate and a constitutional professor winning 18.4 percent of the votes in the first round, faces Nabil Karoui, leader of the Heart of Tunisia party who got 15.58 percent of the votes in the first round of the election held on Sept. 15.

RIYADH, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia announced on Saturday the decision to receive additional U.S. troops, Saudi Press Agency reported.

The decision was part of the directives of the Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and the historical ties between the two countries, the report quoted the Defense Ministry as saying.

The additional reinforcement of troops and defence equipment aims to maintain regional security and face any attempts that threaten stability in the region and the global economy, the ministry said.

CAIRO, Oct 13 (NNN-MENA) – Arab League (AL) Secretary-General, Ahmed Aboul-Gheit, described the ongoing Turkish military operation in northern Syria as a “military invasion.”

Aboul-Gheit’s remarks came, during an AL emergency meeting at the level of foreign ministers, which kicked off Saturday in Cairo, to discuss the Turkish military operation in Syria.

“What Turkey is doing in Syria is a military offensive that violates international legitimacy,” Aboul-Gheit said, accusing Ankara of committing “war crimes and crimes against humanity in Syria.”

ANKARA, Oct 13 (NNN-ANADOLU) – Turkey strongly condemned Arab League’s chief, for levelling allegations against the country’s ongoing Operation Peace Spring, east of the Euphrates River in Syria.

CEYLANPINAR, Turkey (AP) — Turkey’s military said it captured a key Syrian border town under heavy bombardment Saturday in its most significant gain since an offensive against Kurdish fighters began four days ago, with no sign of relenting despite mounting international criticism.

DUBAI (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia said it received a distress message on Friday from a damaged Iranian tanker in the Red Sea but the vessel kept moving and switched off its transponder before it could provide assistance, state news agency SPA reported on Saturday.

SPA said the Sabiti tanker did not respond to many communications from the Saudi authorities. Saudi Arabia was committed to the security and safety of navigation and international laws, it said.

ANKARA/BEIRUT (Reuters) - Turkish-backed Syrian rebels advanced into Ras al Ain in Syria’s northeast on Saturday but it was unclear how far they had gone with Turkey saying the town center had been taken while Kurdish-led forces denied this and said they were counter-attacking.

The battle for Ras al Ain came as Turkey pursued a four-day-old, cross-border offensive against a Syrian Kurdish militia despite an outcry from the United States and European Union and warnings of possible sanctions unless Ankara desisted.