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Flames escape from a building in the Syrian town of Ras al-Ain, on the Turkish border, on October 18, 2019. Ozan KOSE / AFP

In northern Syria, the 17 October cease-fire agreement between Turkey and the US-led Kurdish forces expires in less than three days.

With our correspondent in Istanbul, Anne Andlauer

Ankara gave Kurdish forces until 22 October to evacuate a so-called "security zone" 32 kilometers from the Turkish-Syrian border. For more than 48 hours, on both sides of this border, each side blames the other to sabotage the agreement while affirming, for its part, to comply with it scrupulously.

The Kurdish side accuses the Turkish army and its Syrian counterparts of conducting air raids, bombings and ground attacks against its fighters. The main point of tension is the region of Ras al-Ain, where intense fighting took place. Ankara would prevent the opening of a corridor for the departure of civilians and wounded, but also the withdrawal of Kurdish forces.

On the Turkish side, the Ministry of Defense also denounces violations, namely 14 attacks in 36 hours with rockets, mortars and other heavy weapons, according to the report of Ankara. Facing his public opinion, Recep Tayyip Erdogan wants to be inflexible. The Turkish president reiterates that he will resume his offensive on the evening of October 22 if Kurdish fighters are still present in the area.

► See also: Syria: still fragile peace on the second day of the truce between Turks and Kurds