Turkey defied international calls and shelled parts of northern Syria for a third day on Monday, insisting it would not allow Kurdish-led forces to seize key areas along the border, AFP reports.
The renewed shelling and fresh violence elsewhere in Syria - including a suspected Russian air strike that killed nine people at a hospital supported by Doctors Without Borders - cast doubts on international efforts for a ceasefire to take hold this week.
The Turkish assault continued despite calls from its Western allies for restraint and drew fierce criticism on Monday from Russia, which said the "provocative" shelling was "creating a threat to peace and security in the Middle East and beyond."