The 'historic' Russian-Turkish agreement falters: Ankara attacks Kurdish and Syrian positions
Erdogan's military attacked Assad's army in three villages in the north-east, causing "martyrs and wounded". At least three victims of the Kurds in an assault on the Syrian Democratic Forces. US Defense Secretary speaks of actions that put at risk the stability achieved. Moscow sends other troops to guard the territory.
Damascus (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The "historic" agreement between Turkey and Russia, which halted Ankara’s offensive against the Kurds in Syria, shows its first cracks: yesterday Turkey and their allies (jihadist and anti- Assad groups) attacked Syrian government troops in three villages in the north-east, causing some casualties.
This was reported by official sources of the government of Damascus and NGOs present in the area, which also speak of clashes with Kurdish Ypg militias.
The fighting underlines the still present risk of violence, in an area where there are different groups in search of new territories to conquer. The greatest danger, the experts warn, is that of a clash between Syrian government forces and militias supported by Turkey.
The official Syrian agency Sana reports that Ankara troops and allies attacked the Damascus army near the outpost of Tal Tamr. Assad's military repelled the assault, in the face of "martyrs [victims] and wounded". In another episode, the Syrian Democratic Forces (FDS) [Arab-Kurdish alliance] speak of three victims in clashes with the Turkish military.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has renewed the threat to resume the offensive, if Kurdish fighters continue to fuel tension. Ankara, he added, is ready to "crush" every single Syrian Kurdish fighter who will clash with a Turkish soldier.
Among the first to comment on the Turkish raid was US Defense Secretary Mark Esper, on an official visit to Brussels. These operations, he underlined, put the conquests obtained so far at risk and put us all in a "terrible situation".
Mazloum Abdi, commander of the Kurdish forces, reports a telephone conversation with US president Donald Trump who has assured that American troops "will remain long and the partnership with Syrian democratic forces will continue for a long time".
In these hours Moscow has also intervened with an official note, which has promised to send new military contingents and police forces with heavy weapons, to guarantee the maintenance of the truce and to prevent further clashes between the parties.
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