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Trump hails ‘big success’ with safe zone at Turkey-Syria border
WASHINGTON, Oct 23, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – US President Donald Trump on
Wednesday hailed a deal struck between Russia and Turkey to remove Kurdish
fighters from the Syria-Turkey border, calling the agreement a “big success.”
Trump has been under fire for abruptly withdrawing US troops from northern
Syria, paving the way for Turkey to launch the offensive against the Kurds,
US allies against the Islamic State group.
Under the deal struck Tuesday in Sochi, Russian military police and Syrian
border guards will “facilitate the removal” of Kurdish People’s Protection
Units (YPG) fighters and their weapons from within 30 kilometers (18 miles)
of the border.
It will also see Turkey preserve a “safe zone” inside Syria about 75 miles
long and 20 miles deep. Russia and Turkey will eventually launch joint
patrols along the zone.
“Big success on the Turkey/Syria Border. Safe Zone created! Ceasefire has
held and combat missions have ended,” the president tweeted. “Kurds are safe
and have worked very nicely with us. Captured ISIS prisoners secured.”
The prospect of thousands of Islamic State group jihadists escaping in the
chaos after Turkey launched its military action on October 9 has caused
widespread alarm in the West.
Trump said he would be making a statement on developments in the region at
11:00 am (1500 GMT).
BSS/AFP/ARS/1940 hrs