Published 23:27 IST, October 18th 2019
Donald Trump seconds Erdogan's tweet, says 'Defeat Terrorism'
President of the United States Donald Trump on Friday, while replying to Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's tweet, tweeted stating 'Defeat Terrorism'
After Mike Pence, the Vice President of the United States, on Thursday called for 'Operation Peace Spring' that indicated for a halt in Turkey's cross-border military operation, President of the United States Donald Trump on Friday, agreeing to Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's tweet addressing the former, tweeted stating 'Defeat Terrorism'. Trump had thanked the President of Turkey and stated that "millions of lives will be saved." According to news reports, Pence flew down to Turkey to hold talks with Erdogan on Thursday and called for the operation in order to defeat terrorism.
Erdogan on defeating Terrorism
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, addressing Donald Trump on Thursday, called terrorism "humanity's arch-enemy" on Twitter. Further, he is confident that the joint effort on Operation Peace Spring will bring peace in the region.
Operation Peace Spring
According to reports, 'Operation Peace Spring' calls for a halt in Turkey's cross-border military operation. Under this operation, Turkey has aimed to clear the YPG Syrian Kurdish fighters from a 32-km 'safe zone' along the border. According to Pence, Turkey will pause the Operation Peace Spring to allow the withdrawal of the Kurdish forces from the safe zone for 120 hours.
Five-day ceasefire in northeast Syria
The Vice President of the United States on Thursday, October 17, announced that Turkey has agreed to a five-day ceasefire in northeast Syria to allow the withdrawal of the Kurdish forces. According to reports, Pence made the announcement while speaking to the media at the Presidential palace in Ankara. He stated that "both Turkey and the United States have agreed to a ceasefire in Syria". The United States had started withdrawing its troops from Syria's borders with Turkey after Erdogan had stated that Ankara would kick-off a military air and ground operation in Syria soon. According to reports, the Trump administration wanted to stay away from the explosive situation between the Turkish military and the US-allied Kurdish forces.
Updated 08:16 IST, October 19th 2019