RTSun, 27 Oct 2019 14:04 UTC
© Reuters/StringerSDF fighter in village of Baghouz, Deir Al Zor province.
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) agreed to withdraw from the Syria-Turkey border, in compliance with a deal brokered by Russia.
The Kurdish group said it agreed to pull out after extensive consultations with Moscow.The Kurdish-led fighters said the Syrian Army will deploy along the border with Turkey, and called on Moscow to initiate negotiations between Damascus and Kurdish leaders in the country's northeast.
A deal between Turkey and Russia inked earlier this week in Sochi
gives Kurdish forces 150 hours, starting at noon on October 23, to withdraw 30km (about 20 miles) from the border. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has
vowed to clear the area of any militias if they do not leave by October 29, when the deal is set to expire.
Under the agreement, Russian military police will supervise the withdrawal of Kurdish forces and heavy weapons.
Ankara launched an incursion into northeastern Syria on October 9, following US President Donald Trump's decision to pull out US forces stationed in the region.
The assault on the Kurdish forces - which Turkey views as terrorists - was halted under a US-brokered ceasefire. The Sochi accord expanded the scope of the agreement.
Comment: From
Sputnik, 26/10/2019: Syrian army deploys near 'de facto capital' of Kurdish Rojava
Syrian Army forces have moved from Qamishli, the capital of the de-facto Kurdish autonomous territory known as Rojava, into the surrounding countryside, receiving a warm welcome from local residents. Footage of troops waving Syrian national flags, chanting and gesturing the victory sign:
According to SANA's correspondent, the forces entered the village of Umm al-Keif in Hasaka province. The Army was said to have expanded its deployments across the northeastern Syrian region to protect local residents from possible attacks. Russian military police have been deployed to the city of Qamishli proper, and that they were engaged in peacekeeping patrols there. Footage of Russian units:
Footage shows city residents pelting withdrawing US forces with tomatoes and shouting "America liar" and chanting "America is running away" in Arabic.
Sputnik, 26/10/2019: Erdogan will clear the border of 'terrorists' if deal fails
Ankara will resume operations in Syria against Kurdish forces if they remain inside the 20-mile security zone agreed with Russia, Turkish leader Tayyip Erdogan said.
"We agreed with Russia, but if after 150 hours the terrorists remain in the agreed zone, then we will continue to do what we should, we will take control of the zone and clean it ourselves. We will not sit down at the negotiating table with the terrorists."
See also:
The millions of displaced Syrians (in Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq & Iran) are one step closer to returning home and rebuilding their lives and country, as well as securing their national resources.