The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have destroyed some of its military fortifications along the Turkish border under the recent U.S.-Turkish “peace corridor” agreement, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on August 23.
“Within 24 hours of the phone call between U.S. SECDEF and Turkish MINDEF to discuss security in northeast Syria, the SDF destroyed military fortifications, Aug 22,” a press release by the CENTCOM reads.
The CENTCOM added that the destruction of the fortifications demonstrates the SDF’s commitment to the U.S.-Turkish security mechanism framework.
Click to see full-size image. Source: CENTCOM offical Twitter account (@CENTCOM)
Click to see full-size image. Source: CENTCOM offical Twitter account (@CENTCOM)
Click to see full-size image. Source: CENTCOM offical Twitter account (@CENTCOM)
Turkey and the U.S. reached the “peace corridor” agreement, earlier this month. The vague agreement is supposed to address Ankara’s security concerns in northeastern Syria, where the Kurdish-dominated SDF is in control.
The SDF has not commented on the agreement, or announced the destruction of its fortifications along the Turkish border, so far.
The Kurdish group is clearly complying with the U.S.-Turkish agreement. Nevertheless, it is yet to acknowledge this, likely to avoid public pressure.
That border is not south enough for Erdogan’s liking it would seem… the occupation of Syria deepens. Both Turkey and US are criminal invaders in Syria.
Seems the Kurds and US are playing for time. US (right now) is in no mood to feed the Kurds to the Turks. Instead Kurds where in Damascus, dicussing with Russian meditation, to let the SAA take over their areas should Erdogan invade south. Lets hope that deal becomes a reality in writing. Then Erdogan has lost. He wont attack SAA troops, where Russian advisors are always embedded. That would be the solution to this mess, and it is encouraging, that it may be nearer than we all likely thought.
turkey was better off invading and eliminating ypg separatists, now they will jointly illegally occupy northeast Syria alongside Murica while the SDF yellow terrorists will still exist
The SDF sold out for a 5-mile ‘buffer’ instead of Smeagol’s initial 30-40 mile suggestion? The YPG is suppose to give up their heavy weapons (that I mostly paid for) and leave the Peace Corridor? Brilliant! Job security for worthless ZENTCOM commanders.
Turkey needs a place for about half-a-million head-chopper displaced people. Instead of just the boring Arabization scheme used last time, Turkey will be sending plenty of Uzbek, Uyghur and assorted other ‘stans head-choppers (and families) to push any remaining civilian Kurds out of the peace corridor. That will provide a new base for ISIS recruitment, and – surprise! – justification for eternal U.S. presence in Syria and Iraq, another U.S. forever war.
But the SDF are also saying this now, “the Turks must leave Afrin and return it to the Syrian government before security can be normalized”, that’s exactly the same thing the SAA and the ALF are saying. The US won’t allow in any Syrian refugees from Turkey, and the Russians are happily allowing the SAA to potentially drive millions more into Turkey, you could nearly be forgiven for thinking they’re somehow cooperating against Erdogan, and both compounding his existing refugee and economic problems, but they wouldn’t do that would they, mmm, maybe, what do they both have to gain from losing a treacherous lying madman as a ally, mmm. And is it just a coincidence this is all happening just as Erdogan’s ramped up his campaign in Iraq against the PKK, that no one at all is happy about, he has a huge presence there and must now skillfully coordinate operations on three separate battlefronts just keep his head above water, the SAA in Idlib Hama Latakia and Aleppo, the ALF in SAA held territory in Aleppo, and the Syrian PKK operating in Iraq, but he also has to work around the Russians and the US/SDF too, which adds even more to his plate, any normal human being would have gone under by now, which means Erdogan is certainly a tough cookie, and even though he has many many faults, I’m sure history will remember him as one of the 20th centuries strongest leaders, not the best mind you, just the strongest and most forceful. I’ll have to go wash my mouth out now, saying something positive about Erdogan just left a bitter taste in my mouth.
Very honest explanation indeed.But if you misused NATO membership and interfere in USA,France,British and Israel policies. Of cause you will be label is tyranny,gas man,human eater,slaughter ,threat to their secret global community just as their did to Idiam,Savimbi,Assad,Saddam, Gaddafi, Slobodan Milosevic, Musharraf, Fidel Castro,Da Silva Lula,Boris,Clinton,Obama,Maduro who was supported during Chavez Hugo,Corbachov,Canada PM,Mugabe,Alqaida when their support Taliban,El Chappo when he refuse to supply drugs to USA pharmaceutical companies instead selling to individuals.
His made enemies of old friends and made new enemies out of potential friends, he’s not really mister popular anywhere around the world is he, well anywhere except for Qatar that is. That old saying comes to mind, “with friends like this who needs enemies” LOL.
Thank you very nice observation and demonstrated explanation.
The SDF commander’s statement today referred to returning Afrin to it’s people – the Kurds. He means the SDF Kurds, not the ALF Kurds that have all but rejected the PYD/SDF scheme and cooperate with Assad. They all want Turkey to leave.
For it’s part, Turkey may be letting in (painfully slow) some of the recent Idlib refugees, but Afrin is part of their solution for eventually emptying ALL the refugee camps back into Syria. Afrin ethnic cleansing and replacement by refugees was controlled by Turkey to exclude extremist groups it could not control and wouldn’t submit to Turkish administration. It’s carefully-controlled TFSA militia is the only one allowed in Afrin, and Turkey has already created some kind of Afrin state police for it’s security.
Erdogan (until recent events) looked to roll out that ‘soft occupation/ethnic cleansing’ model across the entire Turkish border. What if that safe zone had a few head-choppers that wanted to cause more trouble in Syria? Erdogan didn’t care as long as they didn’t have heavy weapons and they didn’t cause any trouble (obeyed Turkish administrators) in occupied Syrian lands. Kind of like what he does for now by allowing head-choppers to work out of Turkey, as long as they don’t cause any problems INSIDE Turkey.
Russia insists on a unified Syria, but is even more concerned with pushing head-choppers away from Latakia (and Russian bases). It is enthusiastically throwing a lot of air support for the recent SAA move, but I’m guessing they’ll be less involved after Jisr as Sugur is cleared and the SAA pushes further north to Aleppo. It will continue to support the SAA with training and equipment, of course. but can’t be a major part of Syria’s AF forever.
Yes the statement did say “returning Afrin to its people”, but the western Kurdish enclave is not beholden to the US or the SDF, in fact they’re totally untrusting of the US and would never do a deal with them under any circumstance. You do know they’re under Syrian government jurisdiction and have Russian protection, and also have a huge resentment for the US with absolutely no ties to the SDF. Well that is unless you include the fact that heaps of SDF fighters have left the SDF and joined their western enclave brothers and sisters in the ALF, that’s one tie they do have. Erdogan sent 10,000 Turkish soldiers to his whole southern border a few weeks ago, and I don’t think they’re being sent there to help displaced people fleeing to Turkey, I think they’re actually there to point their guns at them instead. Read some Turkish news to see just how much Erdogan’s been complaining to the EU, he’s been whining about all his plans for the Syrian refugees living in Turkey, and how they’re all going to pot now, he wants to stop the trickle of refugees that’s already began before it turns into an overwhelming flood, that could potentially destroy his already floundering economy, and he wants the EU to do something about it yesterday LOL. He’s crapping his pants. As to Russian compliance to it’s alliance obligations and it’s continued adherence into the future, I’ve posted many opinions on SF that could have me hanged for treason LOL, Putin unloyal and weak, Putin pandering to Erdogan and ignoring Assad, Putin allowing rebels/terrorists to attack Russian bases by pandering to Erdogan, Assad going it alone and trying to take back territory without Russian help, Russian generals and government ministers practically defy Putin and help Assad, Putin is now following his military commanders advice. I think you get the picture. So up until 3 months ago I would have said the Russians won’t do that much more at all, they’d just let the stalemate go on forever, but now I think they’ll help win the war for Idlib as quickly as they can.
In 1938 everybody considered Hitler as one of the strongest leaders. In 1945 he committed suicide after having destroyed the region. Erdogans great example.
They are quite similar to each other in many ways aren’t they, and hopefully if things continue to keep going as badly as they have been for Erdogan, he’ll also be thinking about doing the same thing that Hitler did. To be honest though, I’d prefer to see him locked up in jail and punished for his many crimes.
They’ll also get them back as refugees if things go wrong for Turkey.
Thanks for the unwelcome but realistic analysis of the situation. It’s been clear for some time that Erdoggie wants to settle his “Turkmen” in Syria.
Turkey will be sending nobody. Not even turkish soldiers. The safe zone will be policed by MC’s. No turks allowed. No observation posts on Syrian soil. Only infequent combined patrols with Turks leaving the zone after the patrols. No planes over Rojava. No islamists at all and SDF pushing for this deal on Euphrates shield and Afrin zone.
I wonder what the ordinary rank and file YPG personnel think of their own leaders caving in to Turkish and US demands, like good obedient little bought and paid for shill drones.
The US controlled SDF have just made an announcement concerning Erdogan’s demands about a safe zone, they say Turkish security concerns can only be met if the Turks move out of Afrin, the same thing the SAA and the ALF are saying, so that was the leadership speaking this time, and they just said we can’t do anything really substantial to meet Turkey’s security concerns, until Turkish forces move out of Aleppo governorate altogether.
Kurds, kill the Occalan boys, they are yankee and turquish whoors.
They might regret destroying their own fortifications soon.
They are not stupid. After loosing Afrin, it changes something for them. And Russian meditiation has been tremendously at work, before and after Afrin, to show the Kurds that their only true chance of survival against the Turks is by going under the umbrella of Russia as garantueer and join into the Syrian state. I have no clue close the negotiations are to a final writing, but i hope the Kurdish leaders in Damascus now make the deal to let the SAA take over their areas in the case of Erdogans invasion. The fortifications are worthless too, as they proofed in Afrin, and they know it. No loss. And if the SAA would take over the aeras, Erdogan would not dare it and stop his attack, as the SAA will have Russian advisors embedded. That would be the best possible outcome of this mess, even though pragmatic. But it seems the year long Russian meditation now is paying off. When the deal between Kurds and Damascus is announced, it will be the day we all know Syria will be whole again.
And what the Americans keep the oil fields in the south.
Those oilfields will make the US as much money as they cost to hold them [in both lives and money], Trump knew that when he took office and it’s the main reason he wants to pull the troops out, no profit for heaps of work, bad business deal.
Jihadi lives lost, low cost, that’s why they indoctrinate, and pay them. Trump got elected on the promise of pulling the troops out, but got over ruled. The MIC Rulers cover part of their cost, and deny Syria its sovereign fuel resources and any money they might make to advance. But you are right, its a bad business deal. Jihadi lives are really high cost, when you promote evil, you pay.
the kurdish People rank up there with the most stupid degenerate People ever to live on our planet…….they will now loose everything including their lives……they will get squashed between Turkey and syrian arabs in the next 6 months…….they had all Chances to make a deal with the syrian arabs….but after their “Forced recruitment” of thousands of arabs which is Nothing less than the Kidnapping of thousands of Young arabs with the use of force including the deals they made with Israel for the organ trafficking of Young arabs…and now their masters trade them for Turkey which are the arch enemies of the kurds…lolololol.. in short….. the treacherous dope dealing kurds —-
You reap what you sow!!!!!!
That’s only the US controlled SDF you’re talking about, the Kurdish ALF in the west don’t do that because they’re under Russian and SAA jurisdiction, so all Kurds aren’t alike at all. Some Kurds are in the YPG but many other belong to completely different political groups, some of them like the KDP even favour Turkish intervention, some like the SDF prefer US sponsorship but then again others like the ALF prefer Assad’s government, and there’s many more too. The Romans found them to be among the best architectural engineers in the ancient world, and Saladin the Kurd was one of the middle ages most accoladed military leaders, but you’re right about the current Kurdish SDF leadership, they are all just a bunch of degenerate dumbasses, no argument about that. But the Kurdish ALF leadership is a different matter altogether, they’re pro Assad and anti US, and lot’s of members of the US controlled SDF have been deserting the SDF and joining the ALF for quite some time, so they should be the one group of Kurds you should actually like, check them out and see if you think they don’t deserve to be differentiated from the US controlled SDF, or Turkish inspired KDF [whatever it’s Syrian name is]. I think there’s about two dozen different Kurdish political parties operating in Syria and they all want different things, and just like any other ethnic group in the whole world, they never ever all want the same thing, there’s always a diversity of opinions and desires.
When the U.S. signs a “peace agreement” you can bet there will be no peace.
I knew this a long time ago, the cuestion is… if i a fucking civilian knew this before hand how is that Russia didn’t assume this before hand? Or meaby they know but we didn’t see the consequences yet. I dunno about this, but Russia needs to understand that Turkey is a backstabber country, when they used to be an empire (the ottomans) it was a backstabbing sport for them… the way that they created that empire, not by courage of their manpower nor because they were great warriors, but because they are even worst than the jews in backstabbing.
Because of shit like this is that i understand even less and less the ideas or objectives of Putin in the long run, you shouldn’t give power to this rats.
Yes the SDF has commented on destroying its own military fortifications, and they were quite happy to do so according to reports. But they’re also very happy they don’t have to pull their forces out of the jointly patrolled safe zone, that will now only be a few km’s wide and not the 50 to 60 km’s Erdogan wanted, or allow in heaps of Syrian refugees from Turkey. So the Turks aren’t getting anything at all that they wanted, just partial accommodations of the requests, and better still the SDF have come up with their own new ultimatum that puts them in line with Kurdish ALF and SAA rhetoric, [the Turks must leave Afrin and return it to the Syrian government before security can be normalized], well they say return it to the Kurds but that means exactly the same thing for this area, the SDF aren’t trying to take it from the Turks, just return it to Assad who’ll let the Kurds move back into their old homes. Both the Russians and the US are making it very hard for Erdogan now, the Russians are allowing the SAA to retake the south of Idlib and northern Hama, which has the potential for creating a huge refugee crisis that will see possibly millions heading to Turkey if it continues. And the US and SDF aren’t going to allow Erdogan to dump his remaining refugees into US held areas either, so Erdogan’s not only going to be stuck with all those refugees he already has now, he’s possibly going to have a heap more arriving soon to join them, and his economy is just barely treading water as it is, so he is facing a disaster if no one helps him, and both the US and Russian don’t seem to inclined atm do do anything much at all for him. This is what happens when you play two sides against each other, eventually it works out to your opponents advantage, to actually disown you and make new alliances with your old enemy, and then your enemies team up to destroy you. Politically Erdogan only has 4 or 5 years of life left, nearly all predictions are for a loss in the next election for both Erdogan and his party, and he may not be able to even be a part of any new government elected let alone the leader, and the way it’s starting to look lately his party may not even be invited to help form government at all, just remain one of the opposition parties after the next election, so why would either Putin or Trump bet money on a horse that was favoured to lose the race, that would be pretty stupid. I actually think both Putin and Trump are now in the process of forming excellent relationships with all the Turkish political leaders that look like they’ll be forming the next elected Turkish government, and not trying to appease someone who’s on the way out. Erdogan must be crapping his pants right now, this is an all or nothing situation for him, he’s bouncing back and forth between two brick walls with no escape holes in either, will he in his desperation try to break down one of those brick walls to escape, and which brick wall would he think would be easier to break down, the Russian brick wall, or the US brick wall. LOL LOL LOL, what a FOOL, LOL LOL LOL.
When are their destroying Omar oilfield bases,Hasaka Altanf and Raqqa bases.
alliances in syria aren’t expected a long life, temporary at best until new situations evolve making the old alliance redundant and forcing a new alliance between new parties – assume that the SAA turn east, after having liberated idlib all the way to the turkey’border, turkey is more likely to enter a new alliance with the SAA and scrap the old one with the unhinged states of A, since the objective for SAA and turkey is the the kurds and that will leave the unhinged states of A hanging on by a thread forcing them either to squirrel back home or to Iraq or up the ante with more troops and more weapons und zu weiter. the latter’s not likely to happen given the disastrous state of the unhinged states of A’s financials, 2500 biiilon of $$ in national debt and worsening. so, the Syrian was, started by the unhinged states of a on behalf of the squatters, will be over and the unhinged states in an even more dire financial straits.