Turkish military officials and their US counterparts launched talks to establish a “safe zone” in northern Syria, Turkish National Defense Ministry announced on Tuesday.
Turkey has conducted two major military operations in northwestern Syria – Operations Euphrates Shield in 2016 and Olive Branch in 2018 – to purge the region of terrorist groups.
These include Daesh and the YPG, which is the Syrian offshoot of the PKK terrorist organisation.
The US backed the PYD/YPG-dominated SDF militia in a battle for Daesh’s last territory in Syria.
As both sides thrash out their plan for a safe zone, Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army fighters are prepping for battle.
“We prepared these armoured vehicles for the next battle,” Free Syrian Army fighter Ahmet Mahmoud al Raslan told TRT World.
“There’s a truce now and we are taking this opportunity to improve our defences.”
The YPG is the Syrian offshoot of the PKK terrorist organisation. In the PKK’s 30-year terror campaign against the Turkish state, more than 40,000 people, including children, have been killed.
Turkey, the US and the EU recognise the PKK as a terrorist organisation.
TRT World‘s Sara Firth has more from northern Syria.
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