City
Epaper

'Syria offensive to resume if Kurds don't withdraw'

By IANS | Updated: October 22, 2019 14:10 IST

Turkey has threatened to resume its offensive on the northern Syrian border if Kurdish militias do not clear the area for the creation of a safe zone on Tuesday, which marks the end of the agreed five-day ceasefire.

Open in App

The ceasefire, which ends at 10 p.m. on Friday, was agreed on October 17 between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US Vice President Mike Pence, reports Efe news.

Turkish officials, who consider the Kurdish-led People's Protection Units (YPG) and Democratic Union Party (PYD) as terrorists, said fighting would resume at 10:01 p.m. if one single Kurdish fighter was left in the region.

The country's Defence Ministry added that an attack would be launched regardless of Russia's stance, a long-time ally of Syria's President Bashar Al Assad.

The border area which spans between Ras al-Ain and Tal Abiad 120 km wide and 32 km deep is controlled by the Turkish Army and Syrian opposition National Army.

Turkey has started making arrangements for the creation of a safe zone where some 2 million Syrian refugees will be settled.

Kurdish forces have already withdrawn from the city of Ras al-Ain, complying with the truce deal, and Turkish analysts have said that around 1,000 YPG fighters had abandoned the border.

Erdogan is due to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin to broach the situation of troops on the ground given the Kurds are expected to strike a deal with Assad to stop the Turkish offensive.

He has stated on more than one occasion that he would not oppose the presence of the Assad Army in this region provided the YPG, which controls the area since 2015, guarantee withdrawal.

The US had supported the YPG with weapons and logistics in its fight against the Islamic State terror organisation until it suddenly announced the withdrawal of its remaining troops in the area.

The Russian government said on Monday that the Kurdish community and governing bodies would have to integrate within Syria's legal framework, a statement that ruled out any support for the creation of an autonomous Kurdish region in the Arab country as already exists in Iraq.

Iran, also an ally of Assad, has demanded that Turkey respects Syria's sovereignty.

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: SyriaRussiaTurkeyRas Al Ain
Open in App

Related Stories

InternationalEarthquake of Magnitude 8.8 Is Equal to Explosion of 15,900 Atomic Bombs Like Hiroshima, Claims Grok

InternationalTsunami Warning Issued for US States and Japan After 8.8-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Off Russian Coast

InternationalEarthquake in Russia: Quake of Magnitude 8.0 Strikes Kamchatka Peninsula; Tsunami Warning Issued

InternationalRussia Gas Explosion: Three, Including Child, Killed After Building Part Collapses Due to Blast in Saratov (Watch Video)

NationalSupreme Court Asks MEA to Trace Russian Woman and Return Child's Custody To Father

International Realted Stories

InternationalVisa applicants may be required to post bond of up to $15,000 to enter US

InternationalUK intelligence agencies plan to involve NATO allies to raid 'shadow fleet': Russia claims

InternationalUganda to host nearly 2 million refugees by end of 2025 due to escalating crises: UN

InternationalSouth Korea: Special counsel says no plans to detain Yoon until Wednesday

InternationalPakistan: Section 144 imposed in Rawalpindi as PTI plans to protest on Imran Khan's arrest anniversary