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On Friday evening, Turkey President Erdogan dismissed mounting international criticism of the operation and said Turkey “will not stop it, no matter what anyone says” as devastating airstrikes hit northeast Syria. The US had claimed Turkish strikes had caused “great harm”, with Trump this week threatening to ‘decimate’ the economy in Turkey with sanctions. The Pentagon said US troops came under artillery fire near Kobani, 37 miles west of the main area of conflict. The fire was from Turkish Army positions according to Washington, but the Turkish Ministry of defence has denied this as the relations between the two countries deteriorates.

Turkey’s Defence Ministry said its forces did not open fire at the US base and took all precautions to prevent any harm to it while it was responding to fire from a nearby area by the Kurdish YPG militia, which Ankara regards as a terrorist group. Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said: “US and coalition soldiers were definitely not hit. Indeed the necessary coordination is being carried out by our headquarters and the Americans.” Erdogan sent troops to the Turkey-Syria border this week to establish what he calls a ‘safe-zone’, stating a need to remove terrorist activity in the region. But the Turkish military have caused upheaval in northeast Syria as a result, attacking Kurdish forces that have been left to fend for themselves after Washington decided to withdraw troops to prevent a military clash with Turkey who is a NATO ally.

Erdogan news: Trump

Erdogan news: Trump criticised Turkish strikes and threatened Ankara's economy

The chaos resulting from the conflict in the region has also had consequences in the effort to defeat terror cult ISIS, of whom many fighters have been detained in prison camps in the region. With US troops withdrawn and Kurdish fighters under fire, Syrian Democratic Forces have claimed five ISIS fighters have escaped a prison in Qamishli city. Meanwhile, women affiliated with ISIS attacked security officers with sticks and stones during unrest at a camp in the region where Turkey has launched attacks. The unrest at al-Hawl started in the foreigners’ section and involved more people than previous incidents at the camp. READ MORE:Mother of ISIS ‘Beatles’ killer launches legal bid to bring son home

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As analyst on the situation Kyle Orton told Express.co.uk, this isn’t the first time ISIS jihadists have escaped prisons in the Middle East. He said: “The prison breakout campaign of 2013 was a significant thing. They got some of their most important people out of that prison.” A major prison break occurred on July 21, 2013, and media outlets reported a mass breakout of prisoners at Abu Ghraib in Iraq where at least 500 prisoners escaped. US-Turkey relations have worsened in recent months, with Erdogan’s purchase of Russian S-400 missiles earlier this year causing concern between NATO allies. DON'T MISS:

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