Posted on 10/20/2019 11:17:34 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
AKCAKALE, Turkey (AP) — The Latest on Turkey's invasion of northern Syria (all times local):
6:10 p.m.
A spokesman for the main Kurdish-led group in Syria says their fighters have evacuated the northern town of Ras al-Ayn, saying they have no armed presence there anymore.
Kino Gabriel of the Syrian Democratic Forces said Sunday's evacuation was part of the agreement to pause military operations with Turkey with American mediation.
The withdrawal of Kurdish fighters from Ras al-Ayn would open the way for them to leave a broader swath of territory along the Syria-Turkey border, as part of an agreement reached between the U.S. and Turkey.
Following the evacuation, the Kurdish fighters would redeploy from a zone 120 kilometers (75 miles) wide and 30 kilometers (20 miles) deep between the towns of Ras al-Ayn and Tal Abyad.
___
5:40 p.m.
Turkey's defense ministry says it is closely monitoring the withdrawal of Syrian Kurdish forces as required by a U.S.-brokered cease-fire. That deal has put Turkey's military invasion of northern Syria on "pause" until later this week.
In a statement Sunday, the ministry said the evacuations were taking place in close coordination with the U.S.
Turkey wants the Kurdish fighters to move away from the Turkey-Syria border, pulling back 20 miles (32 kilometers) to the south. The cease-fire is to end Tuesday evening.
The ministry said an 86-vehicle Kurdish convoy has left Ras al-Ayn, a key border town in northeast Syria, toward the town of Tal Tamr.
The statement said Turkey's forces were not obstructing the evacuation.
Washington had backed the Kurds in the fight against the Islamic State group. Turkey considers the Kurdish militias to be terrorists.
___
4:35 p.m.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan want to set up a meeting with the leaders of...
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Oh! All of a sudden we’re getting all kinds of reports from the Syrian war. Gee... I wonder what the lamestream media are trying to say...
Yahoo! News ^ | .•October 20, 2019 | Associated Press,
I would question these two sites if they said the sun rose this morning in the East!
This is all Trump’s fault. With the Kurds pulling away from the border, and Syria reunifying after its civil war, things seem to be going in the right direction for everyone concerned. The next couple weeks should tell us how this will play out.
Good on the Kurds. Not easy to compromise.
They cam out better than would have fighting.
Turks have gotten something, but not much, And many, many deaths have been avoided.
The media says we abandoned the defense of the Hurds, but the reality is we turned it over to Syria. Who have stepped up to the task.
We’re lined up to leave Hasakah, our central base, today.
Syria is lining up to relieve us.
For the Mid-East, things are going better than one would expect.
I agree with you.
I will also say, if there were ever to be a peace agreement in the Middle East, it would be under Trump.
The Kurds are withdrawing from the Turkish border, creating the ‘safe zone’ that is the primary goal of Turkey. If they are able to return the Syrian refugees to Syria, they will have accomplished all of their stated goals.
The big winner is Syria, that appears to be on a path to reunite their country after a devastating civil war.
Even the Kurds will be winners in a united Syria. Though their fantasy of ‘Rojava’ is dashed, they have gained some autonomy and recognition. The question is, are they wise enough to accept their good fortune?
Trump! You magnificent bastard!
He may be inventing 4D chess.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.