Reuters: Syrian Army to Enter Afrin

Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdish 

Reuters has claimed that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has agreed with the People’s Protection Units (YPG) on combining their forces to repel Turkey’s offensive into Afrin.

Badran Jia Kurd, an adviser to the Kurdish-led administration in northern Syria, told Reuters army troops would deploy along some border positions and could enter the region within the next two days.

“There are sides opposing to this deal”

“When it comes to the political and administrative matters in the region, it will be agreed upon with Damascus in the later stages through direct negotiations and discussions,” Kurd said.

He added that there was opposition to the deal which could stand in the way: “We don’t know to what extent these understandings will last because there are sides that are not satisfied and want to make (them) fail.”

“Russia may object to this deal”

On the other hand, a Kurdish politician informed of the deal said on Sunday (February 18) that Russia may object to the deal due to its reservation that the diplomatic process Russia runs with Turkey can become complicated.

According to Reuters, the Syrian government allowed some civilians and politicians from the YPG to cross into Afrin via territories under the control of Syrian government. (PT/TK)