You know that “safe zone deal” President Trump talked about yesterday? Yeah . . . it’s not going so well:
SDF spox @KinoGabriel1 says Turkey-backed forces have launched large-scale assaults on 3 villages (al-Managir, al-Asadiyah, al-Musharifah, ) "outside the ceasefire zone" today.
— Joanne Stocker جوآن (@joanne_stocker) October 24, 2019
NEW — Syrian Kurdish YPG/SDF head Mazlum Abdi accauses Syrian opp forces of violating the ceasefire by launching attacks to eastern front of Ras al-Ayn.
“The guarantors of the ceasefire must carry out their responsibilities to rein in the Turks and stop their operations”
— Ragıp Soylu (@ragipsoylu) October 24, 2019
These villages are inside the agreed safe zone by Turkey and the US, I’m told.
It seems Syrian Kurdish YPG didn’t withdraw from the areas it promised to do so per safe zone deal.
And now clashes are erupting https://t.co/RLTBf07Nnx
— Ragıp Soylu (@ragipsoylu) October 24, 2019
MORE: #SDF Commander @MazloumAbdi alleges #Turkey-backed forces advancing on the eastern front of #RasalAin #Syriahttps://t.co/k9LLCiTJm3
— Jeff Seldin (@jseldin) October 24, 2019
More here from the SDF press office:
Turkish army have been attacking villages of Assadiya, Mishrafa and Manajer with a large number of mercenaries and all kinds of heavy weapons despite the truce. SDF will exercise its right to legitimate self defense and we are not responsible for the violation of the agreement.
— Mustafa Bali (@mustefabali) October 24, 2019
We urge all parties and especially the US to monitor the implementation of the cease-fire agreement that they brokered and hold violators to account.
— Mustafa Bali (@mustefabali) October 24, 2019
And there’s an unconfirmed report ISIS prisoners are using the new fighting in an attempt to break out:
ISIS detainees are attempting to break the prison because they know they will soon be the winning force in #Syria if #SDF get weakened. ISIS members & families had almost surrendered, got disappointed, however, Turkish attacks revived their hopes to rebuild their caliphate.
— Kamal Chomani (@KamalChomani) October 24, 2019
***
Join the conversation as a VIP Member