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Turkey accuses Syrian Kurd forces of violating ceasefire
ISTANBUL, Oct 19, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Turkey on Saturday accused Kurdish
forces of violating an agreement to suspend its Syria offensive if they
withdraw from a “safe zone” along the border.
“The Turkish armed forces fully abide by the agreement” reached on
Thursday with the United States, the defence ministry said in a statement.
“Despite this, terrorists… carried out a total of 14 attacks in the last 36
hours.”
The ministry said 12 of the attacks came from Ras al-Ain in northeastern
Syria, one from Tal Abyad and another from Tal Tamr region, adding that
various light and heavy weaponry including rockets were used.
Turkey had agreed to suspend its Syria offensive for five days but
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned on Friday he would resume a full-scale
operation against Kurdish forces if they do not withdraw from a border “safe
zone.”
The defence ministry said “for the agreement to hold soundly and to keep
the calm with exception of self-defence”, Turkey was coordinating with the
United States.
BSS/AFP/FI/ 1512 hrs