Russian & Syrian forces to deploy to northeastern Syria outside Turkey operation zone – Putin-Erdogan agreement
22 Oct, 2019
Russian military police and Syrian servicemen will be deployed to northeastern Syria, while Turkey’s operation ‘Peace Spring’ will continue in a limited area, presidents Putin and Erdogan have agreed after lengthy talks.
Moscow understands the reasons behind the ongoing Turkish military incursion into Syria, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin said, though he stressed it must not play into the hands of terrorists and that the territorial integrity of Syria must be preserved. Ultimately, the country must be freed from all “illegal foreign military presence,” the president added, reiterating Moscow’s long-time position.
The almost-seven-hour-long talks in Sochi, Russia between Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan were focused on the situation in Syria, particularly the ongoing offensive in its northeastern region.
Read more at https://www.rt.com/news/471529-putin-erdogan-sochi-talks/
Kurds pull out from Syria border region as Putin, Erdogan reach buffer zone deal
22 October 2019,
Kurdish fighters completed their pullout from a zone along the Syrian border as required under a US-brokered cease-fire deal hours before it was set to expire Tuesday, US and Kurdish official said, as the leaders of Turkey and Russia said they had reached a deal to push back Kurdish fighters from a safe zone along the border.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hailed “a historic agreement” with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.
“According to this agreement, Turkey and Russia will not allow any separatist agenda on Syrian territory,” Erdogan said, addressing reporters alongside Putin after the talks in the Russian city of Sochi.
Read more at https://www.timesofisrael.com/kurds-pullout-from-syria-border-region-as-putin-erdogan-reach-buffer-zone-deal/
Iraq: American troops leaving Syria cannot stay in Iraq
By QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA and ZEINA KARAM
Oct. 22, 2019
U.S. troops leaving Syria and heading to neighboring Iraq do not have permission to stay in the country, Iraq’s military said Tuesday as American forces continued to pull out of northern Syria after Turkey’s invasion of the border region.
The statement appears to contradict U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper, who has said that under the current plan, all U.S. troops leaving Syria will go to western Iraq and the military would continue to conduct operations against the Islamic State group to prevent its resurgence in the region.
On Tuesday, Esper said he plans to talk to Iraqi leaders to work out details about the U.S. plan to send American troops withdrawing from Syria to Iraq, adding that the U.S. has no plans to have those troops stay in Iraq “interminably.”
Read more at https://www.apnews.com/825fb065d6f044a590a1fee8101a5a26
Erdogan Says US ‘Not Fully Completed Promises’ on Syria, Turkey Ready to Take Needed Steps – Report
22.10.2019
On 17 October, Turkey and the US reached a 120-hour ceasefire agreement to allow Kurdish forces to leave the ‘safe zone’ imposed by Ankara in areas in northern Syria.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Tuesday that the 120-hour ceasefire period had expired, according to Turkey’s NTV Channel.
The president said the US had not “fully completed promises in Syria deal,” and added that Ankara is prepared to take “necessary steps,” according to the report.
“The promises given [by the US] were not fulfilled entirely. We will accept the results, take necessary steps,” Erdogan said, according to NTV. “If we compromise, we will pave the way for terrorist organizations.”
Read more at https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201910221077121647-erdogan-says-us-not-fully-completed-promises-on-syria-turkey-ready-to-take-needed-steps—report/
Damascus: US-Turkey Ceasefire Deal Unclear, Kurdish autonomy Firmly Rejected
October 18, 2019
Syrian president’s political adviser said that Damascus firmly rejects establishment of Kurdish autonomy in Syria as there are no reasons for that in the country.
“Of course we cannot accept it,” Shaaban said in an interview with al-Mayadeen television responding to the question of whether Damascus could accept a “copy” of Iraqi Kurdistan on its territory.
“There are no grounds for this [Kurdish autonomy] … We will never be able to speak about it from such an angle, since Syria consists of many ethnic and religious layers, and we do not say that someone is a Kurd, or someone follows such and such religion, we simply don’t say that. The majority of the Kurds are a precious part of our society for us, but some Kurdish organizations have made a political decision that is contrary to the interests of the country,” Shaaban stressed.
Read more at https://english.almanar.com.lb/850610
