Turkey And US Reach Deal To Suspend Military Operation In Syria

Riyaz Patel

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US Vice President Mike Pence have reached agreement to suspend Ankara’s operation in northern Syria over the next five days to allow Kurdish forces to withdraw from the so-called ‘safe zone,’ a designated area along the Turkish-Syrian border.

Following a marathon meeting between Turkish and American officials Thursday, the two sides hammered out a deal amid growing international opposition to the Turkish incursion into Syria.

“Today the United States and Turkey have agreed to a ceasefire in Syria,” Pence said.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said: “We got what we wanted. This is not a ceasefire. We only halt our operations.”

The demarcation line of the so-called “safe zone” is to run roughly 20 miles south of the Turkish border, Pence said.

The safe zone is to be primarily enforced by the Turkish military, and the two sides will increase their cooperation