For the first time a US patrol on the Turkish border in Northern Syria

for the First time in three weeks, the US forces are gone, close to the Turkish border in Northern Syria on patrol. Five armored vehicles with U.S.-flag patrolled on Thursday in the Turkish-Syrian border area near the village of Kahtanijah to the East of Kamischli.

This was reported by a Reporter for the AFP news Agency. In the border area, actually on Friday, the joint Russian-Turkish patrols are to begin, to verify the withdrawal of Kurdish forces. The Syrian Observatory for human rights announced that the US troops wanted to stay in the Eastern area of the border present.

Eight Dead in attack near Turkish border

In an attack in the North-West of Syria close to the border with Turkey at least eight people have been killed. At least 30 people had been wounded, reported by rescue workers and eyewitnesses on Thursday. The Region is controlled by Syrian rebels supported by Turkey.

An explosive-Laden car exploded in the according to eye witnesses on a busy marketplace in the town of Afrin. Recordings published on social media showed fire and destruction. In the border region between Syria and Turkey frequent attacks, mostly in mostly by Arabs inhabited cities, which are under the control of the Turkey-allied militias.

residents and rebels accuse the Kurdish militia YPG to be behind the attacks. These deny the accusation that they attack civilians; rather, their guerrilla warfare against Turkish forces is addressed.

fighting between Turkish and Syrian military

to come Between the Turkish and the Syrian army, according to Syrian information severe collisions. The fighting was concentrated in the vicinity of the town of Ras al-Ain near the Turkish border, reported state media on Wednesday. From the Turkish side, no opinion was available.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wants to establish a 30-Kilometer-long and 400-Kilometer-wide strip directly at the border on Syrian territory a "safety zone" with Russian approval. With Russia's ally Syria, the project rejects as "occupation" to be decided.

The military preparations for the establishment of this Zone will run for a few days. The area was previously under the control of the Kurdish YPG militia. Given the military Superiority of Turkey, the Kurds have asked the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for help. Then Syrian troops have advanced in parts of the proposed safety zone areas.

Turkish-Russian patrols

Erdogan had announced before the report on the fighting, joint patrols with the Russian military should be received by Friday, on a first, only seven-kilometre-wide strip beyond the Turkish border. In his speech before deputies of the AKP, he doubted Russian information, the YPG have fully withdrawn from the planned safety strip.

You have the appropriate information, said Erdogan. "If we see that members of terrorist organizations are not deducted from the 30-Kilometer Zone, or if their attacks continue, no matter where, we reserve the right to military operations." Turkey evaluates the YPG as a terrorist organization.

Turkey wants to locate in the planned safety zone of over two million refugees. In Turkey, about three million refugees from Syria live according to the indication from Ankara. In addition, Erdogan wants to expel the YPG, in which he sees an ally of the Kurdish workers ' party PKK, which for years – even in the Turkey for more autonomy struggles.

Assad calls to fight against Turkey on

The Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad, the Kurdish militias of the Syrian Democratic forces (SDF), called meanwhile, the common fight against Turkey in the North of the country. "We are in Syria, a common enemy," said the defense Ministry in Damascus on Wednesday, the state news Agency Sana said. Kurds and Arabs have to unite in the face of "Turkish Aggression", to "every inch of the beloved Syrian territories to restore".

Syrian Constitution Committee in Geneva

After years of preparation came together on Wednesday in Geneva for the first time, the members of the Committee for the drafting of a new Constitution for Syria. The UN special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, spoke at the opening of a "historic Moment" and a "new Chapter for Syria".

"I know that it is not easy for you all to be here together," Pedersen said at the opening of the first session of the constitutional Committee, composed of 50 representatives of government, Opposition and civil society. It is the first Time since the beginning of the civil war in the spring of 2011, representatives of the government of Bashar al-Assad and the Opposition to sit for direct talks to.

The chief negotiator of the Syrian government, Ahmad Kusbari, not praised, the previous basic law of the country as the "modern Constitution", but not for certain Changes in order to achieve "positive change". However, he warned that the government would also set during the negotiations, the fight against "terrorism" continue, "until we have freed every inch of the precious land of our Nation".

the head of The opposition delegation, Hadi Albahra, called the meeting of the Constitution Committee, "a first step on a long road of recovery". All knew that the 150 people in the room had different opinions, he said. "But after eight painful years of suffering in Syria, we came here to look for Similarities," said the opposition representative.

Of Moscow urged

Assad's participation in the talks agreed only under pressure from its ally, Russia. After the opening 45 delegates will begin the ceremony with the drafting of a Constitution. Pedersen is aiming to decide controversial issues by consensus. Where this is not possible, Changes to the Constitution can only be made with Three-quarter-majority made.

Many experts estimate the chances of success of the talks to be low. The government and the Opposition go with the most different ideas in the discussions. While the Opposition calls for a completely new text of the Constitution, to accept the government's only minor Changes. It negotiates from a Position of strength, after it has brought the majority of the country back under its control.

(red/sda)

Created: 31.10.2019, 12:36 PM