Graphic shows areas of control as of January 7, and possible extent of safe zone.
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MIDDLE EAST

Turkey ready to create “safe zone” for Kurds

By Mike Tyler

January 15, 2019 - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that his troops will create a 32km-wide security zone in northern Syria as suggested by U.S. President Donald Trump, as both leaders sought to ease tensions over the fate of Kurdish fighters in the war-torn country.

Erdogan and Trump discussed the issue in a telephone call late Monday that apparently aimed to ease tensions after the U.S. president tweeted a threat to Turkey warning of economic harm should Turkey attack U.S.-backed Kurdish forces in Syria.

The U.S. has relied on the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) to battle so-called Islamic State militants in Syria. Ankara views the YPG as terrorists aligned with a Kurdish insurgency within Turkey’s own borders.

Last month, President Trump announced that the U.S. would begin pulling out its 2,000 troops from Syria because IS had been “defeated”.

Sources
PUBLISHED: 15/01/2019; STORY: Graphic News
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