Erdoğan Warns Offensive Could Resume if 'US Doesn't Keep Its Word'

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Turkey paused its military operation into northern Syria for 120 hours on October 17, after a meeting between President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and US Vice-President Mike Pence in the capital Ankara.

Accordingly, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) will withdraw from border areas where Turkey plans to create a "safe zone".

Here are the developments that took place in the weekend:

Erdoğan: We could resume where we left

The President said on Saturday (October 29) urged the US to keep its promise and remove the YPG from a 32-kilometer deep area.

"If it happens, it happens. If it doesn't happen, we resume where we left," he said in a speech in Kayseri province.

The President also touched on the matter yesterday, saying, "We expect our American allies to keep their promises this time."

Trump: Kurds are settling in new areas

The US President said yesterday that the ceasefire is "holding up very nicely" with Kurds withdrawing from the "safe zone" territory and settling in new areas.

"There are some minor skirmishes that have ended quickly," Trump said, adding that they have "secured the oil".

"The ceasefire is holding up very nicely. There are some minor skirmishes that have ended quickly. New areas being resettled with Kurds. U.S. soldiers are not in combat or ceasefire zone. We have secured the Oil." Mark Esper, Secretary of Defense. Ending endless wars!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 20, 2019

Foreign Ministry: Amnesty International claims are unfounded

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to a report by Amnesty International that said Turkey and its Syrian allies committed violations and war crimes, including summary killings and attacks against civilians. 

"We totally reject the unfounded allegations in Amnesty International's report on Operation Peace Spring," the ministry said, claiming that Amnesty's claims are "part of the ongoing smear campaign" against the operation.

"All necessary measures are taken in order to avoid harm to civilians and civilian infrastructure," it said.

Pentagon: Withdrawal continues apace

US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said that the withdrawal of the US troops from the territory where Turkey plans to establish a "safe zone" is continuing and will take weeks.

"The current game plan is for those forces to re-position into western Iraq," Esper said.

Syrian government forces entered Kobani last week, following the withdrawal of the US troops.

(AS/PT/HA/VK)