Emin Avundukluoğlu
May 07, 2017•Update: May 08, 2017
By Baris Gundogan
ANKARA
Chief of General Staff Hulusi Akar met his U.S. counterpart Joseph Dunford in Washington on Saturday where they discussed developments in Iraq and Syria, the Turkish military told Anadolu Agency in a statement.
The meeting was held ahead of a U.S. visit by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan later this month.
Turkish intelligence chief Hakan Fidan and presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin attended the meeting
Turkey, Russia and Iran singed and agreement Thursday that designated de-escalation zones in the Syrian city of Idlib and certain parts of Latakia, Homs, Aleppo and Hama as well as Damascus, Eastern Ghouta, Daraa and Quneitra.
The deal aims at stopping the use of all arms, including air power, between warring parties in the regions. It also attempts to ensure “emergent and continuous humanitarian aid” be sent to the regions.
The agreement will remain in place for six months and could be automatically extended if the three guarantor countries agree.
Checkpoints will ensure the safe flow of humanitarian aid and provide secure passage for civilians. Observation points will monitor the cease-fire in the region.
Meanwhile, the Turkish Air Force conducted a series of operations against the terrorist group PKK in northern Iraq in recent weeks.
Late last month several airstrikes that targeted the PKK and its Syrian affiliates -- the PYD/YPG -- in the northern Sinjar Mountain region and in northern Syria, killed approximately 90 terrorists.
The PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- resumed its armed campaign against Turkey in July 2015.
Although the U.S. has designed the PKK a terror outfit, Washington has relied on the group’s Syrian branches in its fight against the Daesh terror group.
