Damascus has had a tactical relationship with the PKK since the 1970s, when the terror group was in its infancy. Now the old ties are being renewed in light of Turkey's military operation in northern Syria.
Turkey's operation has been widely condemned in the West, and mostly by those who don't understand Syria, the region, or its people.
"You have to eliminate the social dynamics underlying radicalisation. Turkey's secure regional plan is for exactly this goal," says Fahrettin Altun, the communications director for Turkish Presidency.
Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said the US would not be able to delay Ankara in establishing a safe zone in northeastern Syria as a US delegation visits Turkey to discuss the implementation of a Joint Operations Center.
Following a US decision to withdraw from northern Syria last year, the two NATO allies had agreed to create a sanctuary in the region that would be cleared of the YPG, which is the Syrian branch of the PKK terrorist outfit.
Turkey will launch an operation in Syria if a safe zone is not established, Turkey's Minister of Foreign Affairs says, as US envoy James Jeffrey meets senior officials in Ankara and regime and Russia step up deadly attacks in de-escalation zones.
In a televised interview, Turkey's President Erdogan also floated the idea of visiting Washington after March, adding that the European Council’s decision on whether ascension talks with Turkey should be shelved “has no bearing”.
Turkey has vowed to carry out a counterterrorist operation in Syria, east of the Euphrates, following two similar successful operations since 2016.
Current and former officials told The Wall Street Journal progress between US and Turkey on the Manbij deal is slow and therefore the military withdrawal is proceeding faster than the political track.
Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu announces a joint "task force" between Ankara and Washington to focus on the coordinated withdrawal of US troops from war-torn Syria.
Ankara to maintain its stance on preserving current status in Syria's Idlib, says Turkey’s National Security Council.
Russia and Turkey say the deal between Turkey and Syria is still relevant and its implementation could address Ankara’s security concerns stemming from the outlawed PKK terror organisation.
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