Several thousand Syrian Kurds began crossing into Turkey on September 19 fleeing Islamic State fighters who advanced into their villages, prompting warnings of massacres from Kurdish leaders. Turkey on September 19 reopened its border with Syria to Kurds fleeing Islamic State (IS) militants, saying a "worst-case scenario" could drive as many as 100,000 more refugees into the country.
IS Attacks Send Tens of Thousands Syrian Kurds Fleeing Into Turkey
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Syrian Kurds carry their belongings after they crossed the border between Syria and Turkey near the southeastern town of Suruc, Sanliurfa province, Turkey, Sept. 20, 2014.
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Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus told CNN Turk television on Saturday that 45,000 Syrian Kurds had crossed the border since Turkish authorities opened it on Sep. 19, 2014.
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Turkish soldiers stand guard as Syrian Kurds cross the border fence into Turkey near the southeastern town of Suruc in Sanliurfa province, Sept. 19, 2014.
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A Turkish soldier stands guard as Syrian Kurds wait behind the border fence to cross into Turkey near the southeastern town of Suruc in Sanliurfa province, Sept. 19, 2014.