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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 2 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 aimed at keeping Kurdish forces away from Syria's border with Turkey.
The two powers had both stationed troops on the Turkey-Syria border after US troops withdrew from the area. Turkey this month launched an offensive to drive out the Kurdish forces from their southern frontier and create a buffer zone.
Turkey launched an offensive against Syrian Kurdish militias, parts of which it considers a terrorist group. Russia is an ally of Syria's Bashar al-Assad and has raised concern about foreign interference in Syria.
Now, Russia and Turkey will conduct joint patrols on the border, changing the power dynamic in the area. Turkey and Russia will now conduct joint patrols on the border.
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 deal comes after the US announced a sudden and unexpected withdrawal and analysts see it as cementing Turkish and Russian influence in the region.
Kurdish fighters said they had completed their withdrawal under that agreement, but the deal agreed by Turkey with Russia has effectively extended it. For Turkey it means retaining control over areas gained at the expense of the Kurds while for Russia its forces alongside Syria's will oversee the rest.
They have been given another 150 hours to withdraw to a depth of 32km (20 miles) from the border - a so-called "safe zone". Hours after the deal was announced Turkey said there was no need to re-launch its offensive, which was on hold due to a ceasefire, as Kurdish fighters had withdrawn from the Turkish "safe zone".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. What was agreed?
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. Turkey has seized a 120km-long strip of land between the towns of Ras al-Ain to Tal Abyad to create a "safe zone" to resettle up to two million refugees currently in Turkey.
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.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.
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? Under the plan, Russia will conduct joint patrols with Turkey in parts of northern Syria to ensure that Kurdish forces do not return to areas close to Syria's border with Turkey. They will begin on Wednesday.
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. Joint Russian and Syrian patrols in areas where Turkish forces do not operate will also begin on Wednesday.
It agreed to pause the assault last week at the request of the United States. The announcement came after talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan
President Donald Trump's decision to order US troops to leave the border area was widely criticised by US lawmakers. Mr Assad thanked President Putin and "expressed his full support for the results of the work as well as the readiness of the Syrian border guards, together with the Russian military police, to reach the Syrian-Turkish border," the Kremlin said.
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. How did we get here?
A US-led coalition relied on Kurdish led forces to battle Islamic State (IS) militants in northern Syria over the past four years, but they are dominated by the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia which Turkey sees as a terrorist organisation.
Just over two weeks ago President Donald Trump announced that he would be withdrawing US troops from Syria. Soon after, Turkey launched an offensive on the Kurds.
Russia stationed troops near the border over concerns that Syria's territory was being encroached upon by a foreign power.
Turkey agreed to pause the assault last week at the request of the US to "facilitate the withdrawal of YPG forces from the Turkish-controlled safe zone".
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".
The Kurds have been given another 150 hours to withdraw to a depth of 32km (20 miles) from the border.
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.