U.S. And Turkey Agreed On 120 Hours Ceasefire In Northeastern Syria To Allow YPG Withdrawal
Turkish army vehicles and military personnel are seen near the Turkish-Syrian border on October 12, 2019. IMAGE: Reuters / Murad Sezer
The US and Turkey have agreed on a temporarily easefire in northeastern Syria to allow the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) to withdraw from a 32km-deep ‘security zone’, US Vice President Mike Pence said after talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on October 17.
“Today the United States and Turkey have agreed to a ceasefire in Syria,” Pence announced during a joint press conference with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Turkey is halting its Operation Peace Spring for 120 hours to allow YPG units to withdraw from the designated area. If this is done, the Turkish military operation will not be resumed.
This is confusing. The Turkish – U.S. statement says that the safe zone will be enforced by Turkish armed forces.
Has anybody told them that the Syrian and Russian forces are already inside that zone? pic.twitter.com/74ee0rAePe
— Jenan Moussa (@jenanmoussa) October 17, 2019
Vice President Pence claimed that the process of the YPG withdrawal will be “facilitated”. However, no details were provided how these would be done.
President Donald Trump already said that his wise actions becamse the only reason that made the ‘ceasefire’ possible.
This deal could NEVER have been made 3 days ago. There needed to be some “tough” love in order to get it done. Great for everybody. Proud of all!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 17, 2019
The YPG-led Syrian Democratic Forces already announced that they are acceping the ceasefire. However, their withdrawal from the ‘security zone’ still remains under the question.
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