ANKARA, Sept 7 (NNN-ANADOLU) – Turkey and the United States planned to start joint land patrols in the safe zone in northern Syria on Sunday (tomorrow), Turkish Defence Minister, Hulusi Akar, said, on Friday.
“In this context, we expect the activities to be determined in a certain order and pace, and we wish to progress in this regard,” Akar said.
“The talks (with the United States), lasted a few months. At the end of Aug, a general agreement was reached on a specific schedule within a certain timetable,” Akar said.
On Aug 7, Turkish and U.S. officials agreed to set up a safe zone and develop a “peace corridor” in northern Syria, which would address Ankara’s security concerns about a Kurdish faction that controls the territory.
The deal envisages withdrawal of the People’s Protection Units (YPG) towards the south of the safe zone. The safe zone would also facilitate the return of displaced Syrians, currently living in Turkey, to their home country.
Turkish drones started operating in northern Syria on Wednesday as part of the agreement. Military officials from the two NATO allies also established a joint operation centre in Akcakale.
Washington and Ankara had been at odds for a long time, over plans for northeastern Syria, where the United States has allied with the YPG, the Syrian offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, outlawed by Turkey.
