The Japanese defense minister has ordered the military to prepare to shoot down a North Korean spy satellite should it fall within Japan's territory.

Syrian people stage a protest in the eastern province of Dayr al-Zawr against US troops stationed in the country and their allied militants from the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

A spokesman for the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces says all joint military operations with the US-led coalition have been put on hold as a result of Turkish bombardment in northern Syria.

The SDF commander says Turkey is preparing to conduct a “ground” offensive in the Arab country, while Ankara's ongoing aggression has led to a halt in the Kurdish-led militants' attacks on Daesh.

At least 12 members of US-sponsored Kurdish-led militants and their affiliates as well as Syrian government forces have been killed in the latest Turkish airstrikes against Syria.

Turkey strikes several towns across northern Syria, killing a number of Syrian soldiers and Kurdish militants.

Local residents have prevented a US military convoy from passing through a community in Syria’s eastern province of Dayr al-Zawr, and forced it to turn around.