Why the Turkey-Syria border conflict is a ‘proxy war’ for US-Russia

In Depth: America sidelined as Nato ally Turkey attacks US-backed Kurdish fighters

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Turkish-backed fighters north of the Syrian town of Azaz, near the border
(Image credit: NAZEER AL-KHATIB/AFP/Getty Images)

Ankara today announced its first two combat deaths in Turkey’s clash with US-backed Kurdish fighters south of the border in Syria - a battle many see as a proxy war pitting Russian military might against a weakened America.

“Relations between Turkey and Russia have been gradually getting closer in the context of the Syria conflict, whereas tensions have been rising between Ankara and Washington, which backs the Kurdish fighters in northern Syria,” reports Al Jazeera.

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