Ankara intends to build 12 observation posts in a security zone in northern Syria, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said.
Erdogan and US Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday agreed to suspend 120 hours of Turkish operation in Syria to withdraw Syrian Kurdish self-defense forces from the border with Turkey. Pence said the agreement implies the withdrawal of Kurdish forces from the 30-kilometer security zone on the Turkish-Syrian border and that the United States will facilitate this process. Pence noted that US troops will not return to this area.
“In the security zone, we plan to build 12 observation posts”, – Erdogan told reporters in Istanbul. He is quoted by NTV.
On October 9, Erdogan announced the launch of Operation Source of Peace in northern Syria against the Kurdistan Workers Party and the Islamic State terrorist group. Syrian authorities have repeatedly condemned the occupation policy of Turkey in northern Syria. Russia stated that Turkey needs to avoid actions that could stand in the way of resolving the Syrian conflict, which has been ongoing since 2011.