This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-50138121

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
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 aimed at keeping Kurdish forces away from Syria's border with Turkey. Turkey and Russia have agreed what they say is a "historic" deal aimed at keeping Kurdish forces away from Syria's border with Turkey.
Turkey this month launched an offensive to drive out the Kurdish forces from their southern frontier and create a buffer zone. It comes during a pause in Turkey's offensive to drive Kurdish forces out, creating a "safe zone" in the area.
Russia is an ally of Syria's Bashar al-Assad and has raised concern about foreign interference in Syria. Under the deal, Syrian and Russian forces will immediately oversee a withdrawal of Kurdish forces.
Turkey and Russia will now conduct joint patrols on the border. There is no word from the Kurdish fighters, whom Turkey regards as terrorists.
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. The deal sets out plans for joint Turkish-Russian patrols along the border next week.
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 of the border. The agreement was announced after six hours of talks on Tuesday between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian host, Vladimir Putin, in the Black Sea resort of Sochi.
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Turkey said there was no need to re-launch its offensive, which was on hold due to a ceasefire, as Kurdish fighters had withdrawn from the Turkish "safe zone". A ceasefire brokered by the US was set to expire on Tuesday evening and Turkey had threatened to re-launch its offensive against the Kurdish fighters. It said there was now "no need".
What was agreed? The Turkish offensive began after the US announced a sudden and unexpected withdrawal of its troops from northern Syria, which analysts say has cemented Turkish and Russian influence in the region.
Turkey has seized a 120km-long strip of land between the towns of Ras al-Ain to Tal Abyad, part of its attempt to create a "safe zone" to resettle up to two million refugees currently in Turkey. The US troops had been supporting the Kurdish fighters, who have been allies in the fight against the Islamic State (IS) group in the region.
Russia has agreed to allow Turkey's operation, removing the risk of conflict between the two sides. What was agreed in Sochi?
The statement from Russia and Turkey says Kurdish forces "will be removed" from the towns of Manbij and Tal Rifat - both of which lie outside the operation area. In its offensive, Turkey seized a 120km-long strip of land between the towns of Ras al-Ain and Tal Abyad - part of its attempt to create a "safe zone" to resettle up to two million refugees currently in Turkey and remove the Kurdish fighters.
Kurdish militias have yet to indicate whether they will agree to those demands. Under the deal, Russia has agreed to allow Turkish troops to remain in the area they have taken and retain sole control.
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. Kurdish fighters have been given 150 hours from midday on Wednesday (09:00 GMT) to pull back 30km (20 miles) along almost the whole frontier from the Euphrates, just east of Manbij, to the Iraqi border.
Joint Russian and Syrian patrols in areas where Turkish forces do not operate will also begin on Wednesday. Russian and Syrian forces will move in immediately to oversee the Kurdish pullback.
The announcement came after talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan The area around Qamishli, which has a large Kurdish population, is not included and no immediate details were given as to what would happen there.
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. After the 150-hour deadline expires on 29 October, Turkish and Russian troops will begin joint patrols in areas described as "in the west and the east of the area" of the Turkish offensive.
The statement from Russia and Turkey also says Kurdish forces "will be removed" from Manbij and the town of Tal Rifat, 50km to the west of Manbij - both of which lie outside the operation area.
Kurdish militias and political leaders have made no immediate comment on whether they will agree to the demands.
Syria's President Bashar al-Assad has raised concern about foreign interference in Syria but the Kremlin said he had 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".
How did we get here?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. A US-led coalition relied on Kurdish led forces to battle 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.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.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".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". The ceasefire 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.
US Vice President Mike Pence, welcomed the developments, saying: "We may well give the international community an opportunity to establish a safe zone between Turkey and the Kurdish population in Syria that will ensure peace and security."
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.