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Turkey and Russia in talks to clear Syrian Kurdish group from Kobane
POLITICS
02.11.2021 | 21:02
Turkey and Russia are negotiating to stage a Turkish military operation in Syria’s border town Kobane to clear Syrian Kurdish YPG units there, sources familiar with the issue told Middle East Eye.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said last month that Ankara had lost patience due to sporadic attacks by the YPG, also known as the People’s Protection Units, against the Turkish forces and Turkish-controlled areas in Northern Syria.
“We are determined to eliminate the threats emanating from Syria with our own means,” he said in televised comments. “We will take the necessary steps in Syria as soon as possible.”
Since then, Turkish and Russian officials have been negotiating a deal to address Turkish concerns with regards to the YPG, which Ankara considers a terrorist group due to its direct links with the PKK, a designated terrorist group according to Turkey, the US and EU.
Ankara and Moscow signed a previous deal in 2019, where Russia committed to pull YPG forces from the border area, a promise yet to be upheld by Moscow, according to Turkish officials.
