they said their main street in akcakale, a turkish border town.e trying to clear the area after what appeared to be mortar fire. well, we've just after what appeared to be mortar fire. well, we'vejust had after what appeared to be mortar fire. well, we've just had two massive explosions here in the space of only a few moments. the blasts seem to be inside this building. let's go over here. then we were moved back amid fears of more incoming fire. turkey's offensive across the border in syria is now hitting home. this amateur video appears to show some of the casualties today. officials here in akca kale casualties today. officials here in akcakale say three people are confirmed dead and two of them were children. while we were expecting a response from the turkish authorities and it hasn't taken long. we've been hearing explosions in the last few minutes and on the horizon you can see the dense black smoke. that is the aftermath of a series of air strikes. syrian positions just across the border are being pounded now and there are announcements be

then, a finaljourney to the border town of akcakale.cal mosque, friday prayers became a time of mourning for mohammed, whose family fled syria six years ago. his mother, fatima, gave birth to six girls before having a boy. she said she waited 17 years for her only son. now he is gone, and two of her daughters are in intensive care. her husband, hani, battling his grief, his anger directed at banned kurdish separatists in turkey and kurdish militia in syria. translation: i call on god to bring them failure, to block their path, and not to forgive them. well, prayers are being said here now for baby mohammed. when his family came to turkey, they were hoping against hope to find safety. instead, they were caught up in another round of warfare, and mohammed was killed inside his own home. as he was mourned here, other children were being mourned in syria, including a 12—year—old boy killed by a turkish rocket attack yesterday. mohammed was taken away for burial, a life cut short that leaves a broken family. back across the border, in syria,

although garin has this report from the turkish town of akcakale.ell, through much of the day, we've been hearing heavy outgoing artillery and mortar fire. now, the turkish authorities say they have advanced into northern syria up to about five miles. president erdogan says he is unconcerned about the international condemnation, but it is growing. turkey is already accused of killing innocent civilians, damaging civilian infrastructure, and causing huge numbers to flee, and all of this while it is supposed to be creating a safe zone for more than 4 million syrians to go home to. here is turkey's response to international calls for an end to its offensive. its forces continuing to pound north—eastern syria, creating a new landscape of the displaced — 100,000 people and counting, in just three days. but turkey is paying a price. full state honours today for two civilians killed next to the border, seen here as martyrs in operation peace springs. 0ne coffin is child—size, for a baby boy called mohammed, just nine months old. a victim of rocket fire by

then muhammad's coffin began its final journey to the border town of akcakale.l mosque, friday prayers became a time of mourning for mohammed, whose family fled syria six years ago. his mother fatima gave birth to six girls before having a boy. she said she waited i7 six girls before having a boy. she said she waited 17 years for her only son. now he is gone and two of her daughters are in intensive care. her husband battling his grief. his anger directed at than kurdish separatists in turkey and kurdish militia in syria. translation: separatists in turkey and kurdish militia in syria. translationzlj call on god to bring them failure, to block their path and not to forgive them. prayers are being said here now for baby mohammed. when his family came to turkey, they were hoping against hope to find safety. instead, they we re hope to find safety. instead, they were caught up in another round of wa rfa re were caught up in another round of warfare and mohammed was killed inside his own home. as mohammed was being mourned here, other children were being mourned acr

this is the main street in akcakale. the area after what appeared to be mortarfire. we'vejust had two massive explosions here in the space of only a few moments. they seemed to be inside this building. but then we were moved back amid fears of more incoming fire. tu rkey‘s fears of more incoming fire. turkey's offensive in syria is now hitting home. this amateur video appears to show some of the casualties today. 0fficials here in akca kale casualties today. 0fficials here in akcakale say three people are confirmed dead and two of them were children. well, we were expecting a response from the turkish authorities and it hasn't taken long. we've been hearing explosions in the last few minutes and on the horizon you can see the dense black smoke, that is the aftermath of a series of air strikes, syrian positions just across the border are being pounded now. there are announcements being made telling civilians to take shelter and to get off the streets. the air strikes continued through the afternoon. 0n both sides of this

but then, a final journey to the border town of akcakale.l mosque, friday prayers became a time of mourning for mohammed, his family fled syria six years ago. his mother fatima, gave birth to six girls before having a boy. she said she waited 17 years for her only son. now he has gone on two of her daughters are in intensive care. her husband, battling his grief. his anger directed at band kurdish separatists in turkey and kurdish militia in syria. i call on god to bring them failure, to block their path and not to forgive them. prayers are being said here now for baby mohammed. when his family came to turkey, they were hoping against hope, to find safety. instead, they we re hope, to find safety. instead, they were caught up in another round of wherefore and mohammed was killed inside his own home. —— warfare. as he was mourned here, other children we re he was mourned here, other children were being mourned in syria, including a 12—year—old boy, killed bya including a 12—year—old boy, killed by a turkish rocket attack yesterday. mohammed w

martin patience reporting, and i spoke to martin from akcakale a short while ago.e seen in another town about 18 miles from where i'm standing, ras al—ain, there has been fierce clashes there throughout the day, but turkish forces are inside that city. there was a claim by the turkish government that they had in fact taken that town. i saw a video from fighters inside that town and they almost immediately, as we saw in the report, came underfire, so that is disputed by the kurds. but we also know, according to local reports, the pro—turkish forces have pushed about 20 miles deep into syria. now, that is the limit of this proposed safe zone that turkey says it's going to set up. but, significantly, there is a key highway there and turkish forces are now at that highway and, presumably, in the coming days, they will be looking to secure that. so i think today, there has been significant military developments. martin, what about diplomatic developments? there's been a meeting of the arab league in cairo, they condemned this as an act of aggression. what's your sense f

from akcakale on the turkish side of the border, our middle east correspondent martin patience, has senteport. despite the growing international pressure, turkey's not backing down. at the border, the build—up continues. as turkey claims it's taking control of a key syrian town. this pro—turkish fighter says they've just entered ras al—ain. almost immediately, there's incoming fire from kurdish fighters. tens of thousands of civilians from the town have already fled. some are now sheltering in this school. how do you explain it to a child? this boy says he was at school when he heard an air strike nearby. he says the whole class dived under their desks. "there was shelling", says this man. "i had to flee my house in the middle of the night. we didn't know where to go. we walked about six miles. and i'm sick and i don't have any medicine." but turkey's president says his fight is not against the kurdish people. translation: the west and the us all together say to us, "you are killing the kurds." the kurds are our brothers and sisters, our fight is not against the kurds — it is against ter

then muhammad's coffin began its final journey to the border town of akcakale.the local mosque, friday prayers became a time of mourning for mohammed, whose family fled syria six years ago. his mother fatima gave birth to six girls before having a boy. she said she waited 17 years for her only son. now he is gone and two of her daughters are in intensive care. her husband battling his grief. his anger directed at banned kurdish separatists in turkey and kurdish militia in syria. translation: i call on god to bring them failure, to block their path and not to forgive them. prayers are being said here now for baby mohammed. when his family came to turkey, they were hoping against hope to find safety. instead, they were caught up in another round of warfare and mohammed was killed inside his own home. as mohammed was being mourned here, other children were being mourned across the border, including a 12—year—old boy killed by a turkish shell yesterday. mohammed was taken away for burial, a stolen life that leaves a broken family. and nearby at the border, a panoram

so you think the civilians who have been killed in akcakale, and you know that several have been killedit is defence. you declared the war. turkish government has declared the war and waged war against these forces, and these forces, they are all in their territory, and they have a legitimate right to defend themselves. everybody has a legitimate right to defend themselves. but we're not talking about attacking the turkish military forces who are attacking towns. we're talking about lobbing shells across the border into turkey? what about these 200 people who have been killed, civilians, even the political party leaders? she has been, yeah, assassinated. you're talking about hevrin khalaf, and she was brutally murdered. yes, what about her? she has no defence to herself. where will she go — run away? that raises a question, because she wasn't actually affiliated to the ypg or to the syrian defence forces. she was an independent politician. do you think that there are now militias at work in northern syria who are specifically targeting kurdish politicians? there are. mostly they‘ re pro

this is the main street in akcakale, a turkish border town.r the area after what appeared to be mortarfire. well, we've just had two major explosions here in the space of only a few moments. the blast seemed to be inside this building. but then we were moved back amid fears of more incoming fire. turkey's offensive across the border in syria is now hitting home. this amateur video appears to show some of the casualties today. child screams. 0fficials here say three people are confirmed dead and two of them were children. well, we were expecting a response from the turkish authorities and it hasn't taken long. we've been hearing explosions in the last few minutes and on the horizon, you can see the dense black smoke. that is the aftermath of a series of air strikes. syrian positions just across the border are being pounded now and there are announcements being made here on loud hailers telling civilians to take shelter and get off the streets. air strikes continued through the afternoon. on both sides of this border now, there are families grie

this is the main street in akcakale, a turkish border town.area after what appeared to be mortarfire. well, we've just had two major explosions here in the space of only a few moments. the blast seemed to be inside this building. but then we were moved back amid fears of more incoming fire. turkey's offensive across the border in syria is now hitting home. this amateur video appears to show some of the casualties today. child screams. officials here say three people are confirmed dead and two of them were children. well, we were expecting a response from the turkish authorities and it hasn't taken long. we've been hearing explosions in the last few minutes and on the horizon, you can see the dense black smoke. that is the aftermath of a series of airstrikes. syrian positions just across the border are being pounded now and there are announcements being made here on loud hailers telling civilians to take shelter and get off the streets. airstrikes continued through the afternoon. on both sides of this border now, there are families grieving and

the bbc‘s international correspondent 0rla guerin reports from akcakale on the turkey—syria border. in to a heroes‘ welcome — troops of the assad regime, handed a victory without firing a shot, arriving today in the strategic town of ain issa. look who's back. the kurds say they had to do a deal with the regime after washington left them alone to face a turkish invasion. the choice, they say, was compromise or genocide. further along a key highway, the town of tal tamer also back in assad's hands, loyalists resurfacing. "i've kept this picture hidden for years, waiting for this day," he says. but, for other syrians, this about—turn is a painful blow. we met abu saddam and his family on the turkish side of the border. he planned to go home to tal tamer once kurdish militia were gone. not anymore. translation: i was shocked when they told me that the regime is now in control. we were happy when the turkish army went in. we were hoping to go back and live happily in our village. no—one can go back with the regime there. his young relative mohammed wants to study medicine in the uk. he

officials here in akcakale say three people are confirmed dead, and two of them were children. a response from the turkish authorities and it hasn't taken long. we've been hearing explosions in the last few minutes and on the horizon you can see the dense black smoke. that's the aftermath ofa that's the aftermath of a series of air strikes. the air strikes continued through the afternoon. on both sides of this border now, there are families in mourning and the offensive is only in its second day. donald trump's surprise decision to pull us troops out of syria is testing the bounds of republican support for the us president. some of the harshest critcism is coming from inside his own party from those who say the policy endangers kurdish allies and threatens to undo progress in the battle against isis. one of the few voices pushing back is senator rand paul. here he is defending the president's decision on cbs this morning. we're moving 50 soldiers out of the on—slaught of tens of the on—slaught of tens of thousands of turkish troops so really i think it is a smart thing to do. w

our international correspondent orla guerin is at akcakale, on the border.ces and armoured personnel carriers close to the syrian border. we filmed this convoy tonight heading to a military base, the first evidence, perhaps, of the build—up to a turkish invasion of syria. and earlier, being bussed to the border, syrian rebel fighters backed by turkey. they could be extra manpower for the planned offensive, which is causing havoc internationally, even before it begins. in washington, president trump has been meeting his top brass and trying some damage control. he has denied abandoning kurdish forces, america‘s key allies in syria. but after their epic battles against is, they now feel mighty alone. and what now for that battle? there‘s growing concern internationally about what an offensive across this border might do to the global fight against islamic state. small wonder. there are thousands of is fighters being held in kurdish—run detention centres. the kurds have said if the turks attack, they‘ll have to focus on that fight. so defeated is fighters like

the civilians who have been killed in akcakale, you think that is legitimate? it is defence.war. turkish government has declared the warand turkish government has declared the war and wage turkish government has declared the warand wage war turkish government has declared the war and wage war against these forces, and these forces have a legitimate right to defend themselves. everybody has a legitimate right to defend themselves. but we're not talking about attacking the turkish military forces who are attacking towns. what about lobbing cells across the into turkey? what about these 200 people who have been killed, civilians, even the political party leaders? the syrian future party leaders, the co—chair, she has been, yes, assassinated. and she was brutally murdered. yes, what about her? she has no defence to herself. where will she go, run away? that raises a question, because she wasn't actually affiliated to the ypg or syrian defence forces. she was an independent politician. do you think that there are now militias at work in northern syria who are specifically targetin

happen to thousands of is prisoners. 0ur international correspondent 0rla guerin is on the border in akcakaleder. two convoys arrived at a base nearby in the space of about an hour. a source close to turkish intelligence has told the bbc that the offensive will begin in the morning. now, that is unconfirmed, but kurdish forces believe it is imminent. we have had reports that they are appealing for civilians to act as human shields and that they are pitching tents near the border for those human shields. a noisy reception for turkish forces on the move. ambulances and armored personnel carriers close to the syrian border. we filmed this convoy tonight, heading to a military base. the first evidence, perhaps, of the build up to a turkish invasion of syria. and earlier, being bussed to the border, syrian rebel fighters backed by turkey. they could be extra manpower for the planned offensive, which is causing havoc internationally, even before it begins. in washington, president trump has been meeting his top brass, and trying some damage control. he has denied abandoning kurdish forces, america'

our international correspondent orla guerin joins us from akcakale on the turkey—syria border.our or so president trump has announced sanctions on turkey over its offensive in northern syria. he accused turkey of treading piece, and security. his critics would say he set always in motion by withdrawing us observers from positions on the border behind me, paving the way for the turkish invasion. earlier today president one of turkey said his operation would continue until what he called the ultimate victory was achieved and his troops are moving towards the border again tonight. in the international community there is now a growing sense of crisis. rolling in to a heroes welcome. troops of the assad regime. handed a victory without firing a shot. arriving today in this strategic town. and look who is back, the kurds say they had to do a deal with the regime after washington left them alone to face turkish invasion. the choice, they say, was compromise 01’ the choice, they say, was compromise or genocide. further along a key highway and other town also back in the hands of presid

our international correspondent orla guerin joins us from akcakale on the turkey—syria border.ident erdogan has created a dangerous new reality here. north—eastern syria is a battle ground, 160,000 people have been displaced. now the balance of power is shifting. the kurds have had to throw themselves on the mercy of the assad regime. syrian troops have been moving back in, american troops will be moving out and, internationally, there is a growing sense of crisis. rolling in to a hero's welcome. troops of the assad regime. they have been handed a victory without firing a shot. arriving today in the town of ain issa. look who's back. the kurds had to invite the regime in after washington left them alone to face a turkish invasion. and the town of tel tema now in asad's hands -- tal town of tel tema now in asad's hands —— tal tamer. his supporters resurfacing. i have kept this picture hidden for years, he says, waiting for this day. but not eve ryo ne waiting for this day. but not everyone is celebrating. we met abu and his family on the turkish side of the border. he was planni

appeared to be retaliatory kurdish artillery fire have hit the main street of the turkish town of akcakale london in 2015 and headed to northern syria to fight against the islamic state with the kurdish ypg militia. he did three separate trips over the course of the following three years. macer is here with me now. what an extraordinary experience you must‘ve had. first of all, why did you go? i think everyone can remember where they were when isis rose. just the images ofjournalists on their knees in the deserts. the image of the mountain, 20,000 men, women and children been trapped by islamic state. i was moved by it, moved but also angered by the fact that britain and america and others would not go out and commit to helping them. so going out myself was just helping them. so going out myself wasjust an helping them. so going out myself was just an act of helping them. so going out myself wasjust an act of international solidarity. and you did not have any military background or links to syria? no, i went military background or links to syria? no, iwent as military background or links t

the bbc‘s shahdi alkashif is at the akcakale crossing on the turkey—syria border and joins us live.his morning, andi are here from earlier this morning, and i saw many military vehicles from the turkish army reach that area from the morning, and also the turkish army sent more troops this morning and last night to that area. 20 buses were carrying elite forces from the turkish army. it seems the turkish preparation is still continuing, and the new thing is that hundreds of militants from the syrian opposition group brigades also reached that point this morning near the akcakale crossing, and they made a joint convoy with the turkish army. all of the area near the border, from this location, i can see the syrian city on the other side of the border. i can see that this morning there was a number of vehicles and people still moving on the syrian side from the border. but now the movement is a little bit slow on the other side. all the information here and all the sources say that the turkey amish operation will start from this point against the city. about 100 kilometres to the city.

officials here in akcakale say three people are confirmed dead, and two of them were children.ting a response from the turkish authorities and it hasn't taken long. we've been hearing explosions in the last few minutes and on the horizon you can see the dense black smoke. that's the aftermath of a series of air strikes. the air strikes continued through the afternoon. on both sides of this border now, there are families in mourning and the offensive is only in its second day. 0rla guerin, bbc news, on the turkey—syria border. we are going to follow—up on that story injust a we are going to follow—up on that story in just a few minutes‘ time here on newsday when we speak to a representative from washington, dc. japan is bracing itself for what is predicted to be the biggest and most violent typhoon of 2019. strong winds, rough seas, and also heavy rain are forecast as typhoon hagibis gets closer to sweeping across the capital, tokyo. two world cup rugby matches have already been cancelled over safety concerns and the formula one grand prix could also be affected. earlier i spoke