Absolutely incredible:
• The US & Turkey agree on a ceasefire in northern Syria.
• Turkey will be allowed to create a zone 20 miles south of its border.
• Within 5 days, Kurds have to evacuate. US sanctions will be lifted if ceasefire holds. middleeasteye.net/news/us-and-tu…
• The US & Turkey agree on a ceasefire in northern Syria.
• Turkey will be allowed to create a zone 20 miles south of its border.
• Within 5 days, Kurds have to evacuate. US sanctions will be lifted if ceasefire holds. middleeasteye.net/news/us-and-tu…
In other words, the US agreed to allow Turkey to create that zone that the YPG worked hard in recent days with RUSSIA to prevent happening.
The most baffling thing here is how the SDF/YPG can clear the way in 20 miles inside Syria when it allowed the Syria regime to enter some of those areas.
Will the SDF/YPG have to leave such areas entirely to the regime? As if the US wants to further help not stop Turkey.
Will the SDF/YPG have to leave such areas entirely to the regime? As if the US wants to further help not stop Turkey.
More baffling as you think more about it. Pence had no idea what he was giving Turkey.
Russia has presence in those areas. The SDF’s departure means deeper Russia’s presence.
Russia has presence in those areas. The SDF’s departure means deeper Russia’s presence.
The Pence-Erdogan agreement is simply another middle-finger to the Kurds from the US, since the Kurds moved fast in recent days to minimize the damage by striking a deal with Russia to keep them in those areas & stop the Turkish incursion. 
Implementation will be the hard task, but for now let’s ponder what Pence promised Erdogan
1) the SDF/Kurds will evacuate 20 miles
2) sanctions will be lifted if Turkey doesn’t attack NE Syria in the next five days.
3) Turkey doesn’t have to fire a bullet, with the ceasefire.
1) the SDF/Kurds will evacuate 20 miles
2) sanctions will be lifted if Turkey doesn’t attack NE Syria in the next five days.
3) Turkey doesn’t have to fire a bullet, with the ceasefire.
Of course the Kurds would reject the deal Pence made with Erdogan.
That’s the worst deal for them, after the very worst deal Trump gave them the first time last week.
“PYD's Aldar Xelil that the 32 kms-deep zone terms were rejected.”
That’s the worst deal for them, after the very worst deal Trump gave them the first time last week.
“PYD's Aldar Xelil that the 32 kms-deep zone terms were rejected.”
Importantly, the US concedes to Turkey the long-debated need to disarm the YPG, and re-collect arms previously provided to the group by the US
Those worrying about how this could be implemented have to remember that Turkey does not mind working with Russia, and that its top priority is to end the Kurdish project in northern Syria.
More details in this thread:
More details in this thread:
The SDF agrees to a "ceasefire" with Turkey, but important to understand what Mazloum Abdi is agreeing to.
He accepts the cessation of hostilities but none of the other details in the Erdogan-Pence agreement. He's framing that agreement as a ceasefire that Turkey bowed to.
He accepts the cessation of hostilities but none of the other details in the Erdogan-Pence agreement. He's framing that agreement as a ceasefire that Turkey bowed to.
Also, not accepting the "ceasefire" means that Turkey would resume its campaign. This is the worst deal imaginable for him, but he has few choices unfortunately. The deal is a no-brainer for the Kurds.
Now that makes sense:
The SDF's "General Mazloum said that they accept the ceasefire which is for the active war zone Serêkanîyê (Ras al-Ain) & Girêsipî (Tal Abyad) and US is part if this. They do not accept withdrawal"
The SDF's "General Mazloum said that they accept the ceasefire which is for the active war zone Serêkanîyê (Ras al-Ain) & Girêsipî (Tal Abyad) and US is part if this. They do not accept withdrawal"
A copy of the Pence-Erdogan joint statement about a ceasefire in northern Syria.
Items 6, 9-12 are the essential ones.
For the future, this statement confirms American support for Turkish operations inside Syria against “terrorists.”
Items 6, 9-12 are the essential ones.
For the future, this statement confirms American support for Turkish operations inside Syria against “terrorists.”
An English copy of the Pence-Erdogan joint statement about a ceasefire in northern Syria.
Items 6, 9-12 are the essential ones.
For the future, this statement confirms American support for Turkish operations inside Syria against “terrorists.”
Items 6, 9-12 are the essential ones.
For the future, this statement confirms American support for Turkish operations inside Syria against “terrorists.”
Not looking good
