ANKARA, Oct 30 (NNN-ANADOLU) – Turkish Defence Ministry said, Russia informed Turkey, Kurdish fighters had finished withdrawing 30 km from Turkey’s border.
Russia informed Turkey that the People’s Protection Units (YPG) had also pulled out of the cities of Manbij and Tel Rifat, with their heavy weapons, at the end of the 150-hour period, the ministry said, in a statement.
Turkish and Russian soldiers will start joint patrols 10 km from the Turkish border, as agreed in a deal between Ankara and Moscow, after the security of the zone is provided, the ministry said, noting that, reconnaissance flights had already started.
“Mine and handmade explosives cleansing activities, as well as reconnaissance flights, have started on the patrol routes,” said the ministry.
Following U.S. pullout of its troops from northern Syria, Turkish armed forces launched an incursion into Syria, in a bid to drive Kurdish fighters out of the area to establish a safe zone along the Turkey-Syria border.
Under the U.S.-Turkey deal, reached on Oct 17, on a five-day truce, Turkey agreed to halt its military operation to pave the way for the withdrawal of YPG fighters from the safe zone.
Turkey and Russia later agreed to give the YPG fighters another 150 hours to withdraw 30 km away from the Turkish border area. The deadline ended in the late afternoon on Tuesday (yesterday).– NNN-ANADOLU