Turkey says talking with Russia over YPG terrorists in northeast Syria

The area spanning Ankara's Operation Peace Spring in Syria has largely been purged of terrorism, Turkey's defense minister said Thursday.

"Even though some sleeper cells remain, the area of Operation Peace Spring has largely been purged," Hulusi Akar said.

"Around 1,200 terrorists have been neutralized since launch of Turkey's anti-terror operation in northern Syria," he added.

Turkey on Oct. 9 launched Operation Peace Spring to eliminate YPG/PKK 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.

Ankara agreed with Washington on Oct. 17 to pause its operation to allow YPG/PKK terrorists to withdraw from the planned safe zone.

Turkey is also discussing with Russia how to address the continued presence of YPG terrorists in areas covered by an agreement between the two countries, Akar said.

On Oct. 22, Ankara and Moscow reached a deal under which YPG/PKK terrorists would pull back 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) south of Turkey’s border with Syria within 150 hours, and security forces from Turkey and Russia would mount joint patrols there.

Turkey has complained that the withdrawal has not been completed, and threatened to resume its offensive. But Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday that it was almost done, and added that Ankara had assured Moscow that it did not plan to launch a new military operation.

Akar said that Russia told Turkey on Oct. 29 that 34,000 militants and more than 3,200 heavy weapons were removed from a 30-km deep strip of land in Syria on the Turkish border.

"Findings to the contrary are being discussed with the Russian Federation," Akar told a parliamentary commission.

Akar said Turkey had determined that the YPG was still present in the Manbij region "wearing the clothes of the (Syrian government) regime elements", and had asked Russia to address the issue. Talks with Russia on increasing patrols in Tel Rifat were ongoing, he said.

Turkey and Russia have backed opposing sides in Syria's eight-year civil war but they have worked together on several fronts to broker deals between President Bashar al-Assad's forces, supported by Moscow, and the opposition, backed by Turkey.