Europe

The Latest: Syrian government, Kurds reach truce in Hasakeh

Associated Press
Published | Updated

A Turkish army tank and an armored vehicle are stationed near the border with Syria, in Karkamis, Turkey, Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016. Turkish media reports say Turkish artillery on Tuesday launched new strikes at Islamic State targets across the border in Syria, after two mortar rounds, believed to have been fired by the militants, hit the town of Karkamis, in Turkey's Gaziantep province. Hurriyet newspaper and other reports said the mortar rounds were fired from IS-held Jarablus, Syria.(IHA via AP) (The Associated Press)

A Special Security force member on guard at the mausoleum of Turkey's founder Kemal Ataturk as Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, military commanders and ministers visit the mausoleum to pay respects, in Ankara, Turkey, Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016. Turkish media reports say Turkish artillery on Tuesday launched new strikes at Islamic State targets across the border in Syria, after two mortar rounds, believed to have been fired by the militants, hit the town of Karkamis, in Turkey's Gaziantep province. Hurriyet newspaper and other reports said the mortar rounds were fired from IS-held Jarablus, Syria.(AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici) (The Associated Press)

Security officials walk past an exhibit inside the mausoleum of Turkey's founder Kemal Ataturk as Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, military commanders and ministers visit the mausoleum to pay respects, in Ankara, Turkey, Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016. Turkish media reports say Turkish artillery on Tuesday launched new strikes at Islamic State targets across the border in Syria, after two mortar rounds, believed to have been fired by the militants, hit the town of Karkamis, in Turkey's Gaziantep province. Hurriyet newspaper and other reports said the mortar rounds were fired from IS-held Jarablus, Syria.(AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici) (The Associated Press)

The Latest on the Syrian civil war (all times local):

4 p.m.

Syrian state media says a cease-fire between government and Kurdish forces in Hasakeh has gone into effect, six days after fierce clashes erupted between the two sides over control of the northern Syrian city.

It says the cease-fire went into effect at 2 p.m. (1100 GMT) Tuesday.

The Kurdish Hawar News Agency says government forces and pro-government militias have agreed to withdraw from Hasakeh and leave it in under the control of the local Kurdish police force, the Asayish, as part of the terms of the cease-fire.

The statement from Syrian state media does not mention any withdrawals. It says the two sides had agreed to evacuate the injured and exchange detainees.

Government and Kurdish forces have shared control of Hasakeh since the early years of the Syrian war.

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11:15 a.m.

Turkish media are saying that Turkey's artillery has shelled Islamic State targets across the border in Syria. This comes after two mortar rounds, believed to have been fired by the militants, landed on Turkish territory.

The Hurriyet newspaper and others say the mortar rounds, fired from IS-held Jarablus on Tuesday morning, hit the town of Karkamis, in Turkey's Gaziantep province. One of them exploded in the garden of a house, but no one was hurt.

Hurriyet reported on its website that Turkey's military responded by launching 40 rounds, hitting four IS target.

On Monday, Turkish artillery attacked a U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish militia as well as IS positions in Syria.

The state-run Anadolu Agency reported Turkey has increased security measures at its border opposite Jarablus, deploying tanks and armored personnel carriers.