A temporary cease-fire agreement in Syria

By Marie Jego and Allan Kaval Posted today at 06:48, updated at 07:17

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Turkey agreed on Thursday (October 17th) to suspend its offensive in Syria for five days to allow Kurdish forces to withdraw from a "security zone" wanted by Ankara, under the terms of an agreement negotiated by the American administration and presented by the Turkish government as an absolute victory. "Turkey has put the United States on its knees", headline Thursday evening, the site of the daily pro-government Yeni Akit.

The truce, announced since Ankara by US Vice President Mike Pence after four hours of talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was welcomed by Donald Trump, convinced that it will help "Save millions of lives".

If it is really implemented, the agreement achieves all the objectives aimed by Turkey at the launch of its offensive "Source of Peace" in northeastern Syria a week ago, namely the control of a band 32 kilometers deep and 400 kilometers long – to the border with Iraq – by the Turkish army and its Syrian deputies and the total withdrawal of Kurdish fighters from this area over which, in the long term, the Syrian refugees currently hosted by Ankara will be installed.

To allow the Kurdish forces to withdraw, "Within 120 hours, all military operations as part of the operation "Source of peace" will be suspended and the operation will cease completely once this withdrawal is completed "Pence told reporters after meeting with Turkish number one.

American disintegration

Jubilation of Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, according to which the United States bowed to "Importance and functionality" of the "Security zone" wanted by Ankara. Refusing to talk about 'Cease-fire', he mentioned " pause "supposed to allow Kurdish fighters to abandon their heavy weapons, to destroy their positions and to withdraw.

"The break does not mean that our soldiers and forces will withdraw. We stay "he was boastful. The Islamo-conservatives can only welcome the large concessions granted to Turkey by the US administration. "Our military successes are enhanced by a diplomatic victory," said Thursday, Ismail Çaglar, the director of the SETA think tank, subordinated to power in Ankara.