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Afrin: Syria 'sending fighters to help Kurds against Turkey' Afrin: Syria 'sending fighters to help Kurds against Turkey'
(about 1 hour later)
Syrian pro-government forces will help Syrian Kurds fighting against a Turkish offensive in north-west Syria, Syria's state news agency reports.Syrian pro-government forces will help Syrian Kurds fighting against a Turkish offensive in north-west Syria, Syria's state news agency reports.
It comes after Syrian Kurdish officials said the government in Damascus had agreed to send troops.It comes after Syrian Kurdish officials said the government in Damascus had agreed to send troops.
Turkey regards the Kurdish fighters, just across its border in Afrin, as terrorists. It launched a major offensive against them last month. Turkey regards the Kurdish fighters, just across its border in Afrin, as terrorists.
Syria has not had a military presence there since pulling out in 2012. It launched a major offensive against them last month.
"Popular forces will arrive in Afrin within a few hours to support its people's stand against the Turkish regime's attack on the area and its people," Syrian state news agency, Sana, said. On Monday, Syrian pro-government forces were also reported to be preparing a ground assault on the rebel-controlled area of Eastern Ghouta, on the edge of Damascus.
Syrian activists said dozens of civilians had been killed over the past 24 hours in government attacks, in one of the deadliest days in Eastern Ghouta since Syrian forces stepped up their campaign to retake it earlier this month.
What has purportedly been agreed?
Syrian state news agency, Sana, said "popular forces" would arrive in Afrin "within a few hours to support its people's stand against the Turkish regime's attack on the area and its people".
A senior Kurdish official, Badran Jia Kurd, told Reuters that government soldiers would deploy to some border positions. This has not been confirmed by Syrian authorities.A senior Kurdish official, Badran Jia Kurd, told Reuters that government soldiers would deploy to some border positions. This has not been confirmed by Syrian authorities.
If a deal has been struck, Turkish troops could find themselves confronting not only Kurdish fighters in Afrin, but the Syrian army too, says BBC World Service Middle East editor Alan Johnston.If a deal has been struck, Turkish troops could find themselves confronting not only Kurdish fighters in Afrin, but the Syrian army too, says BBC World Service Middle East editor Alan Johnston.
The Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), backed by its armed wing, the People's Protection Units (YPG), has dominated the Kurdish areas of northern Syria since 2012. Why has Turkey entered Afrin?
The YPG later cleared Islamic State (IS) group fighters beyond the Kurds' self-rule areas, bringing large swathes of territory under Kurdish control. Turkey began its cross-border offensive - which it has dubbed operation Olive Tree - in January.
Turkey is trying to oust the YPG from Afrin because it sees the group as an extension of the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has fought for Kurdish autonomy in Turkey for three decades. It is trying to oust the People's Protection Units (YPG), the armed wing of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD).
The Kurds have administered semi-autonomous enclaves south of the Turkish border since Syrian forces pulled out in 2012, and the YPG has taken control of other territory after driving out Islamic State (IS) fighters.
Turkey sees the YPG as an extension of the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has fought for Kurdish autonomy in Turkey for three decades.
The YPG denies any direct military or political links with the PKK.The YPG denies any direct military or political links with the PKK.
The Syrian military and the YPG have largely avoided direct conflict in the Syrian war thus far but have had sporadic clashes. What is the cost of the Afrin conflict so far?
Turkey has supported rebels fighting Syrian government forces since the civil war began in 2011 but there has been no direct confrontation between the two powers since Syria shot down a Turkish fighter plane in 2012, killing two crew. Thousands of civilians have fled since Turkey's offensive began just over a month ago.
"We can co-operate with any side that lends us a helping hand in light of the barbaric crimes and the international silence," Mr Jia Kurd said. Neither side has released much information about fatalities, making the death toll difficult to gauge.
However, he warned that the purported agreement - which he said did not include any political arrangements - could fall through. Kurdish media reported intensified Turkish air and artillery attacks in the region on Monday.
A child was killed and eight other civilians were injured in shelling of Basute village, according to the Kurdish Hawar News Agency (ANHA).
Turkey has said it is targeting only combatants, not civilians.
How would the Syrian government fit in?
Syria has not had a military presence in the Afrin area for nearly six years.
During the course of the Syrian war, pro-government forces have largely avoided direct conflict with the YPG, but they have had sporadic clashes.
The government of President Bashar al-Assad opposes the YPG's demands for autonomy and has vowed to retake control of all Syrian territory. However the two sides are united in wanting to block Turkey's advances.
From the Kurdish perspective, Mr Jia Kurd said: "We can co-operate with any side that lends us a helping hand in light of the barbaric crimes and the international silence."
However, he also warned that the purported agreement - which he said did not include any political arrangements - could fall through.
Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said: "If the [Syrian] regime is entering to oust the PKK, YPG, there is no problem. But if they are entering to protect the YPG, then no-one can stop us and Turkish soldiers."
Who is aligned with whom?
Northern and north-western Syria hosts a complex mix of alliances between different international and regional players.Northern and north-western Syria hosts a complex mix of alliances between different international and regional players.
The situation is further complicated by the YPG militia receiving funding from Turkey's Nato ally the United States, as partners in the fight against IS.The situation is further complicated by the YPG militia receiving funding from Turkey's Nato ally the United States, as partners in the fight against IS.
Turkey has supported rebels fighting Syrian government forces since the civil war began in 2011, but there has been no direct confrontation between the two powers since Syria shot down a Turkish fighter plane in 2012, killing two crew.