Vice President Mike Pence announced on Oct. 17 that the United States and Turkey have agreed to a ceasefire in northern Syria.
Speaking to reporters, Pence said that Turkey will temporarily halt their actions in northern Syria for five days to allow the Syrian Defense Forces (SDF) time to withdraw from the area. Various Kurdish militias are a part of the SDF.
After the five-day period is over, Turkey will cease their operations in northern Syria entirely, Pence said.
.@VP Mike Pence announces that the U.S. and Turkey have agreed to a cease fire in Syria. pic.twitter.com/0aap6vcavI
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) October 17, 2019
The day before, Pence, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and White House National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien had held negotiations with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to end Turkey’s invasion of the Kurds in northern Syria or face further sanctions. President Donald Trump had announced on Oct. 6 that the U.S. would be withdrawing forces from the area; since then, he has threatened “to swiftly destroy Turkey’s economy” if they continue their actions against the Kurds.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahi condemned Turkey’s invasion of the Kurds in an Oct. 10 statement.
“Israel is prepared to extend humanitarian assistance to the gallant Kurdish people,” Netanyahu said.
