*ANKARA: United States and Turkey reach an unexpected breakthrough dealover military operations in Syria.*
US Vice President Mike Pence said on Thursday he had reached a deal withTurkish President Tayyip Erdogan for a ceasefire in northern Syria to endan eight-day-old Turkish offensive against Kurdish-led forces.
Speaking after crisis talks with Erdogan in Ankara, Pence said that underthe deal all military operations would be paused to allow a pullback ofKurdish YPG militia over a 120-hour period. The Turkish military operationwould end once that withdrawal was complete, Pence told a news conference.
“Today the United States and Turkey have agreed to a ceasefire in Syria,”Pence told a news conference after more than four hours of talks at thepresidential palace in Ankara.
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“The Turkish side will pause Operation Peace Spring in order to allow forthe withdrawal of YPG forces from the safe zone for 120 hours,” Pence said.“All military operations under Operation Peace Spring will be paused, andOperation Peace Spring will be halted entirely on completion of thewithdrawal.”
