- Damascus has understood that Kurds in northern Syria have become a threat after regime jets pounded US-backed Kurdish forces in the country's northeast late last week, Turkish premier Binali Yildirim said Saturday.

"This is a new situation... It is clear that the regime has understood the structure Kurds are trying to form in the north (of Syria) has started to become a threat for Syria too," Yildirim told foreign correspondents in Istanbul, referring to the Syrian Kurds' bid to join up regions under their control.