The United States slapped sanctions on Turkey Monday as it demanded an end to the deadly incursion against Syrian Kurdish fighters, accusing its NATO partner of putting civilians at risk and allowing the release of Islamic State extremists.

Behind the landslide victory of conservative political outsider Kais Saied in a runoff presidential vote were millions of young voters, who describe him as a leader worthy of their trust as Tunisia's democracy takes root.

Turkey accused the European Union on Monday of protecting "terror elements" by criticizing its military offensive against Kurdish militants in Syria. 

The EU on Monday condemned Turkey's assault on Kurdish forces in northern Syria but stopped short of imposing the formal arms embargo some countries have urged.

The top congressional Democrat said Monday she had agreed with Republicans on the need for a resolution to overturn Donald Trump's "dangerous" troop withdrawal from northern Syria, as the US president threatened tough sanctions against Ankara.

The Pentagon has begun removing all its troops in northern Syria, a U.S. official said Monday, after President Donald Trump ordered them to leave in the face of Turkey's attacks on Kurds in the area.

Syrian regime troops entered the key Syrian city of Manbij, state news agency SANA said Monday, after Damascus deployed troops to the country's north to contain a days-long Turkish offensive.

Since the outbreak of Syria's brutal civil war, the United States has stated several objectives -- destroying Islamic State extremists, easing from power President Bashar al-Assad and limiting Iran's influence.

A Saudi football delegation visited east Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque compound on Monday as part of a groundbreaking trip to play a match in the occupied West Bank.

President Donald Trump suggested Monday that Kurdish fighters may be releasing imprisoned Islamic State group jihadists to bait the United States into remaining involved in northeastern Syria.