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Turkey Syria offensive: Erdogan and Putin strike deal over Kurds Turkey Syria offensive: Erdogan and Putin strike deal over Kurds
(about 1 hour later)
Turkey and Russia have agreed what they called a "historic" deal over military action against Kurds in northern Syria after a marathon diplomatic meeting.Turkey and Russia have agreed what they called a "historic" deal over military action against Kurds in northern Syria after a marathon diplomatic meeting.
Turkey has been launching an offensive against Syria's minority Kurdish group near the border. The two powers had both stationed troops on the Turkey-Syria border after US troops withdrew from the area.
Russia, a military ally of Syria's president, had deployed troops to the region in response. Turkey launched an offensive against Syrian Kurdish militias, parts of which it considers a terrorist group.
The deal says that Russia has agreed to allow Turkey's operation, removing the risk of conflict between the two sides. Now, Russia and Turkey will conduct joint patrols on the border, changing the power dynamic in the area.
It came just ahead of the expiry of a ceasefire between Kurdish fighters and Turkish forces, and it is not yet clear whether the Kurdish militias will agree to the terms laid down by Russia and Turkey. The new deal came just ahead of the expiry of a ceasefire between Kurdish fighters and Turkish forces which had been brokered by the United States.
Turkey considers the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia to be a terrorist organisation. Kurdish fighters said they had completed their withdrawal under that agreement, but the deal agreed by Turkey with Russia has effectively extended it.
The ceasefire, brokered by the United States, expires at 22:00 (19:00 GMT). Shortly beforehand, the YPG said they had complied with the terms of the US-brokered deal. They have been given another 150 hours to withdraw to a depth of 32km (20 miles) from the border - a so-called "safe zone".
But the new deal agreed by Turkey with Russia has given Kurdish fighters extra time to withdraw. The Kurdish forces in northern Syria are dominated by the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia, which Turkey considers a threat lying on its border.
From noon on Wednesday, the Kurdish fighters would have another 150 hours to leave the border region, withdrawing to a depth of 32km (20 miles) from the border - a so-called "safe zone". The deal effectively splits military control of the region between Russia and Turkey, filling a role left vacant by the United States' sudden and unexpected withdrawal.
The area affected is a 120km-long strip between the towns of Ras al-Ain to Tal Abyad, where the Turkish operation is taking place. Why is Russia involved?
After the US forces - which had been allies to the Kurds fighting the Islamic State group - withdrew, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan launched a cross-border offensive on 9 October.
Russia, allied to Syria's president, stationed troops near the border over concerns that Syria's territory was being encroached upon by a foreign power.
The Russian deployment had created the potential for clashes between Russia and Turkey - something Mr Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin both want to avoid.
But after six hours in a private meeting, Mr Erdogan and Mr Putin, the two sides agreed a deal.
Russia has agreed to allow Turkey's operation, removing the risk of conflict between the two sides.
The area in question is a 120km-long strip between the towns of Ras al-Ain to Tal Abyad, where the Turkish operation is taking place.
But Mr Erdogan had reportedly wanted all 440km of the border to be part of the safe zone.But Mr Erdogan had reportedly wanted all 440km of the border to be part of the safe zone.
The statement from Russia and Turkey says that Kurdish forces "will be removed" from the towns of Manbij and Tal Rifat - both of which lie outside the operation area.The statement from Russia and Turkey says that Kurdish forces "will be removed" from the towns of Manbij and Tal Rifat - both of which lie outside the operation area.
It also says Russia and Turkey will conduct joint patrols outside the operation area. Kurdish militias have yet to indicate whether they will agree to those demands.
Why is Russia involved?
President Erdogan and President Putin's private meeting lasted more than six hours.
Russia has been a key military force in Syria's civil war, allied to the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Mr Assad's forces entered the border region in response to Turkey's offensive against the Kurds.
The Russian deployment had created the potential for clashes between Russia and Turkey - something Mr Erdogan and Mr Putin want to avoid.
"Russia wants to discuss the situation in the north-east of Syria, better understand what is going on," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov before the Sochi meeting. "We want to acquire information about Turkey's plans and see how it compares with the general plan of the political settlement."
Earlier on Tuesday, Russian military helicopters landed at the Tabqa airbase after US troops left, Russian defence ministry-controlled Zvezda TV reported.
What role does the United States have?What role does the United States have?
Turkey launched it offensive on 9 October after US troops withdrew from the area.
A US-led multinational coalition relied on the YPG to battle Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria over the past four years, but the Turkish government views it as a terrorist organisation with links to a Kurdish rebel group fighting in Turkey.A US-led multinational coalition relied on the YPG to battle Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria over the past four years, but the Turkish government views it as a terrorist organisation with links to a Kurdish rebel group fighting in Turkey.
It agreed to pause the assault last week at the request of the United States.It agreed to pause the assault last week at the request of the United States.
President Donald Trump's decision to ordered US troops to leave the border area was widely criticised by US lawmakers. President Donald Trump's decision to order US troops to leave the border area was widely criticised by US lawmakers.
On Thursday, US Vice-President Mike Pence persuaded Mr Erdogan to agree to pause the Turkish offensive for 120 hours to allow the US to "facilitate the withdrawal of YPG forces from the Turkish-controlled safe zone". He also agreed to a permanent ceasefire upon completion of the YPG withdrawal. On Thursday, US Vice-President Mike Pence persuaded Mr Erdogan to agree to pause the Turkish offensive for 120 hours to allow the US to "facilitate the withdrawal of YPG forces from the Turkish-controlled safe zone". Mr Erdogsan also agreed to a permanent ceasefire upon completion of the YPG withdrawal.
Since then the ceasefire has largely held, despite what US officials have described as "some minor skirmishes".Since then the ceasefire has largely held, despite what US officials have described as "some minor skirmishes".
What has the cost been?What has the cost been?
The UN says more than 176,000 people, including almost 80,000 children, have been displaced in the past two weeks in north-east Syria, which is home to some 3 million people. The UN says more than 176,000 people, including almost 80,000 children, have been displaced in the past two weeks in north-east Syria, which is home to some three million people.
Some 120 civilians have been killed in the battle, along with 259 Kurdish fighters, 196 Turkish-backed Syrian rebels and seven Turkish soldiers, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a UK-based monitoring group.Some 120 civilians have been killed in the battle, along with 259 Kurdish fighters, 196 Turkish-backed Syrian rebels and seven Turkish soldiers, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a UK-based monitoring group.
Twenty civilians have also been killed in attacks by the YPG on Turkish territory, Turkish officials say.Twenty civilians have also been killed in attacks by the YPG on Turkish territory, Turkish officials say.