* Photo: AA
Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdish
The Ministry of Defense of Russia has announced that 34,000 thousand YPG members and over 3,000 units of weapons and military equipment have been withdrawn to the distance of 30 kilometers out of the safe zone.
As part of the Sochi agreement reached by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and President of Russia Vladimir Putin, YPG had 150 hours to withdraw from Turkey-Syria border till October 29 at 6 p.m.
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Shortly before the 150-hour time given to the YPG expired, Minister of Defense of Russia Sergei Shoigu announced that the withdrawal of YPG forces "from the safe zone in north-eastern region of Syria had been completed ahead of schedule."
He also added the the region was "now under the control of Syrian border guards and Russian military police."
'They have withdrawn to 30 kilometers'
Major General Yuri Borenkov, the head of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Sides in Syria, has stated the following at his daily briefing about the YPG withdrawal:
"As of 18:00 Moscow time on October 29, a total of 68 Kurdish self-defence units numbering 34,000 people and more than 3,000 units of weapons and military equipment have been withdrawn to the distance of 30 kilometres [about 18.6 miles] from the contact line with the Turkish armed forces."
Borenkov has added that "the Syrian government forces have set up 84 border block posts on the Syrian-Turkish border, including 60 in the Qamishli area and 24 in the Kobani area."
Statement by the Ministry of National Defense
The Ministry of National Defense of Turkey has also released the following statement on its official website yesterday:
"Required sensitivity was shown by us in terms of the fulfillment of the matters related to the east of the Euphrates and covered by the agreement reached in Sochi on October 22, 2019 between Russia and Turkey.
"It has been reported by the Russia that YPG has been taken out 30 kilometers away beginning from the Turkey-Syria border as well as out of Manbij and Tel Rifat with their heavy weapons at the end of 150-hour period.
"Turkish-Russian joint patrols will be initiated in the west and east of the borders of current Operation Peace Spring at a depth of 10 kilometers, except for the city of Qamishli.
"In this regard, mine and HME cleansing activities as well as reconnaissance flights have been started on patrol routes.
"Turkey will never allow the formation of a terror corridor in the south of its borders, and our fight against the terrorist organizations, particularly DEASH and PKK/YPG, will continue with determination.
"Thus, by establishing a peace corridor in the region, it will be ensured that our displaced Syrian brothers voluntarily and safely return to their homes and lands." (TP/SD)
