Turkey, Russia to clear N Syria of terrorists

Turkey and Russia will clear area 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) south of Turkey's border with Syria of YPG/PKK terrorists, and security forces of two countries will conduct joint patrol, said Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Friday.

Referring to the agreement between the two countries, Cavusoglu said: "All YPG/PKK terrorists from the Euphrates to the Iraqi border, for 30 kilometers deep, will be removed, and we have started to conduct joint patrols there."

Terrorists in Qamishli will also be removed but patrol activities will not be conducted in that area, as the Syrian regime forces have been there from the beginning [of the crisis], he said.

"YPG/PKK terrorists will be removed from Manbij and Tal Rifat. So, we took what we wanted with the two agreements, with the least damage.

"This would not have happened if we did not do the operation," he added.

On Oct. 9, Turkey launched Operation Peace Spring to eliminate terrorists from northern Syria east of the Euphrates River in order to secure Turkey’s borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees, and ensure Syria’s territorial integrity.

On Oct. 22, Erdogan and Putin held a meeting in Russia's Black Sea resort town of Sochi.

Ankara and Moscow reached a deal under which YPG/PKK terrorists will pull back 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) south of Turkey’s border with northern Syria within 150 hours, and security forces from Turkey and Russia will conduct joint patrols there.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union -- has been responsible for the deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants. The YPG is the Syrian offshoot of the PKK.

* Writing by Havva Kara Aydin