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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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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 3 hours 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. |
| The two powers had both stationed troops on the Turkey-Syria border after US troops withdrew from the area. | The two powers had both stationed troops on the Turkey-Syria border after US troops withdrew from the area. |
| Turkey launched an offensive against Syrian Kurdish militias, parts of which it considers a terrorist group. | Turkey launched an offensive against Syrian Kurdish militias, parts of which it considers a terrorist group. |
| Now, Russia and Turkey will conduct joint patrols on the border, changing the power dynamic in the area. | Now, Russia and Turkey will conduct joint patrols on the border, changing the power dynamic in the area. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Kurdish fighters said they had completed their withdrawal under that agreement, but the deal agreed by Turkey with Russia has effectively extended it. | Kurdish fighters said they had completed their withdrawal under that agreement, but the deal agreed by Turkey with Russia has effectively extended it. |
| They have been given another 150 hours to withdraw to a depth of 32km (20 miles) from the border - a so-called "safe zone". | They have been given another 150 hours to withdraw to a depth of 32km (20 miles) from the border - a so-called "safe zone". |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 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. |
| Why is Russia involved? | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| Kurdish militias have yet to indicate whether they will agree to those demands. | Kurdish militias have yet to indicate whether they will agree to those demands. |
| What role does the United States have? | What role does the United States have? |
| 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 order 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". Mr Erdogan 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 three 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. |