Turkey and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) traded accusations yesterday for violating the US-brokered ceasefire in northern Syria, while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened to "smash the heads of Kurdish fighters" if they did not withdraw from the region within five days. Set them.
In detail, the Turkish Defense Ministry said yesterday that the Kurdish People's Protection Units / Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) carried out 14 breaches during the last 36 hours, amid the full commitment of the Turkish armed forces to the Safe Zone Agreement.
"The Turkish armed forces are fully committed to the Safe Zone Agreement, reached by Turkey and the United States on October 17," the ministry said in a statement.
The statement added: «However, elements of the People's Protection Units (YPG) and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), carried out 12 attacks / breaches in Ras al-Ain, and two in the area of Tal Tamr, and "Verify the use of light and heavy weapons (missiles, anti-aircraft weapons and tanks), in those attacks."
In a related context, the General Command of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), yesterday, the United States of America to pressure the Turkish government to abide by the ceasefire agreement, the leadership said in a statement: «We call US Vice President Mike Pence, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who concluded Agreement with the Turkish side, to oblige Ankara to implement the process of ceasefire, and open the corridor to get the wounded and civilians trapped, according to understandings on it with the American side ».
She added: «Despite the continued communication with the American side, and the promises made by them to solve this problem, but there has been no tangible progress».
For his part, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday that he would discuss the deployment of Syrian government forces in a safe area to be set up in northern Syria, during talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, this week, but warned that Ankara will implement its plans unless a solution is found .
At an opening ceremony in the central province of Kayseri, Erdogan said Turkey would "destroy the heads of Kurdish fighters in northern Syria if they did not withdraw from the area within the five-day deadline." Turkey and the United States agreed last Thursday to halt Turkey's military offensive in northeastern Syria for five days until Kurdish fighters withdraw from the "safe zone" and Erdogan will visit Sochi for talks with Putin on steps to be taken.
Meanwhile, the commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces, Mazloum Abdi, said in an interview with Agence France Presse yesterday, resuming operations against the cells of the terrorist organization «Daesh» in eastern Syria, in cooperation with the international coalition led by Washington, after being frozen by the Turkish attack.
Abdi said by phone: «Our work against (ISIS) is continuing, and came into effect again, we activated military action against ISIS cells in Deir Ezzor, and our forces are working there with coalition forces».
Abdi stressed the importance of the American role in maintaining the balance in Syria, and not leave the scene to other parties, including Russia, adding: «We want to have a role for America in Syria, not that the Russians and others in the arena, it is in our interest that the American forces remain here to continue the balance in Syrian".
The Russian Foreign Ministry said yesterday that a delegation of Russian officials met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, the day before yesterday, to discuss the need to reduce the escalation in the northeast of the country.
"The discussions focused on the current situation on the ground in Syria, in light of the escalating tension in the northeast," the ministry said in a statement. "The need to take measures to reduce the escalation of the situation and ensure security in those areas was noted."
Forces loyal to the Turkish army cut off the road «Ras al-Ain - Tal Tamr», in the countryside of the northwestern province of Hasaka, sources said that armed groups loyal to the Turkish army, took control of three villages on the road, and thus became the city of Ras al-Ain completely besieged.
The sources confirmed that armed groups attacked, yesterday, points of the Syrian army in the village of Ahras, and the Syrian army was able to repel the attack, and returned elements of armed groups to the area from which they started.