The self-styled Syrian National Army, the shock troops in Turkey's offensive against US-allied Kurdish forces, harbor a "hatred of Kurds, a sense of Arab chauvinism, complete intolerance for any dissent, and just a desire to make a profit is what's driving most of the abuses."

President Vladimir Putin's envoy for Syria Alexander Lavrentiev says 1998 pact between Syria and Turkey allows Turks to push up to 6 miles into Syria for counterterrorism purposes, but that Turkey does not have the right to remain in Syria permanently.

Following diplomatic efforts on behalf of Israeli farmers, Jordan's King Abdullah II agrees on Wednesday to extend a land lease with Israel in the Tzofar enclave in the Arava region for a period of 5-7 months, or one agricultural cycle, Jordanian media reports. It is still unclear whether he will extend the land lease in Naharayim, in the Jordan Valley. The Tzofar extension will give negotiators more time to discuss potential economic models.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's staff worries that Blue and White leader Benny Gantz would form a narrow government that would remove Netanyahu as prime minister, weakening his political strength ahead of a third election.