Turkish Military Enters Syria to Begin Joint US 'Safe Zone' Patrol

TEHRAN (defapress) – Armed Turkish military vehicles crossed into northeast Syria on Sunday to begin planned joint US-Turkey patrols to establish a "safe zone" along the border.

News ID: 78637

Date: 08 September 2019 - 14:54

Vehicles with Turkish flags joined those in Syria with US flags some 15 kilometers (nine miles) east of the Turkish border town of Akcakale, near Syria’s Tel Abyad, Reuters reported.

The region east of the Euphrates river is mainly controlled by Kurdish YPG forces.

In a speech on Saturday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that his country would not remain silent to over 30,000 weapon, equipment and ammunition-laden trucks sent by the US to northern Syria, where Kurds are operating.

The remarks covered on the website of the Turkish presidency came during a speech by Erdogan to members of his ruling AK Party in the city of Eskisehir.

The Turkish president further criticized the US for its lack of commitment to pledges about setting a safe zone in Syria along the Turkish border, adding that he would "sort out" the issue with the Americans during a meeting with US President Donald Trump in New York later this month.

"We must resolve this ... There are differences between what is said and what has been done," Erdogan said.

Turkey and the US have been at odds over the situation in northeast Syria, where an alliance of Kurdish and Arab militants have enjoyed Washington’s support in their alleged fight against terrorism.

Turkey views the Syrian YPG Kurdish fighters as an extension of its own Kurdish militancy, insisting the US should end its support for the group

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