Tuesday, 22 October 2019

UPDATE 1-Turkey, Russia strike deal to remove Syrian Kurdish YPG, launch joint patrols

UPDATE 1-Turkey, Russia strike deal to remove Syrian Kurdish YPG, launch joint patrolsSOCHI, Russia/ANKARA, Oct 22 (Reuters) - Turkey and Russia agreed on Tuesday to remove the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia to beyond 30 km (19 miles) from the Turkish border, after which their troops will jointly patrol a narrower strip of land in a "safe zone" Ankara has long sought in northern Syria. Beginning at noon (0900 GMT) on Wednesday, Russian military police and Syrian border guards will move in to facilitate the removal of YPG members and weapons to beyond the zone in a mission that should take about six days, according to the deal. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov hailed the deal as one that would end the bloodshed in the region, while Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey had no designs on Syrian territory as it continued to push the YPG south.




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