First Phase of Syria 'Safe Zone': YPG Withdraws from Border Areas

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The joint operations center established by Turkey and the US to establish a "safe zone" in Syria conducted first joint reconnaissance flight with helicopters on Saturday (August 24).

As part of the first phase of the safe zone agreement, the People's Defense Units (YPG) forces reportedly withdrew from an 88-kilometer long area near the border between Tal Abyad (Gre Sipi) and Ras al-Ayn (Sari Kani).

The agreement between Turkey and the US stipulates the withdrawal of the YPG to 20 kilometers away from the border with their heavy weaponry. The militaries od Turkey and the US will perform joint patrols in the 20-kilometer-deep area but will not enter city centers.

Zedan al-Asi, the defense co-head of the administration in northern and eastern Syria, said that the YPG forces have withdrawn to their new positions, the "border barriers" in Ras al-Aynhave been removed and the points near the border have been handed to local forces.

Sources: Defense Post, Rudaw