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Turkey reaches critical crossroads in Syria

Turkey has an important decision to make now that it has helped Free Syrian Army troops win a major battle for border control in northern Syria.
A member of the Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) patrols in the border town of Jarablus, Syria, August 31, 2016. REUTERS/Umit Bektas     TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY      - RTX2NQ2X

Now that control of the Turkey-Syria border has been wrested from the Islamic State (IS) between al-Rai and Jarablus, what will Ankara's next target be: IS in al-Bab or the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in Manbij?

On Sept. 4, 12 days into Operation Euphrates Shield, Free Syrian Army (FSA) elements supported by a Turkish armored task force entered al-Rai and took over the 98-kilometer (61-mile) stretch of border. Since 2014, this area had been the main supply route for IS personnel, money, guns and logistics, and the group's main link with the outside world. The question now asked by all concerned is: What next?

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