Lavrentyev Says Situation in Northeastern Syria Remains Difficult

GENEVA (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 29th October, 2019) The situation in northeastern Syria, where Turkey is conducting a military operation against Kurdish units, remains difficult, Russian special envoy for Syria Alexander Lavrentyev said.

"The situation is quite difficult. There are many details, it is difficult to comment on that. But the most important thing is that, as our president [Vladimir Putin] said, everyone benefited from signing the [Russian-Turkish] memorandum," Lavrentyev told reporters on Monday in Geneva, when asked whether the clashes between the Kurdish units and Turkey continue in northeastern Syria.

On October 22, Russia and Turkey signed a 10-point memorandum of understanding that stipulates that units of Russian military police and Syrian border guard be deployed to the Syrian-Turkish border amid Ankara's operation against the Kurdish units in the area.

The Turkish offensive aims to clear the area of terrorists and Kurdish militia, which for Turkey are interchangeable terms, and create a so-called safe zone there for the further accommodation of Syrian refugees currently residing in Turkey.

Under the memorandum, the Russian and Syrian forces are also supposed to facilitate the withdrawal of the Kurdish troops and their weapons from the 18-mile safe zone within 150 hours.

On Sunday, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces announced the complete withdrawal of troops from the border area in accordance with the memorandum.