Stories Related to The Latest: Turkey Wants No Syrian Kurds In Battle For Raqqa

BEIRUT (AP) — The Latest on the conflict in Syria (all times local): 3:50 p.m. Turkey’s defense minister has reiterated Ankara’s objections to having Syrian Kurdish fighters’ participate in an operation to capture the Islamic State group stronghold of Raqqa. The minister, Fikri Isik, suggests that instead of the Kurds, Turkish-backed forces can present an “alternative.” Isik also said on Thursday that Turkey “would insist until the end” that the Syrian Kurdish fighters known as the YPG be kept out of the battle for Raqqa.