Published 14:48 IST, October 18th 2019
Shelling heard in Syrian town after Turkish-US ceasefire deal
Shelling and gunfire were heard in Ras Al Ain, a Syrian town on October 18 after Turkey agreed with the United States to pause its offensive in Syria for 5 days
Shelling and gunfire were heard in Ras Al Ain, a Syrian town on October 18 after Turkey agreed with the United States to pause its offensive in Syria for five days to allow Kurdish forces to withdraw. Machine-gun fire and shelling could be heard as far as from the Turkish town of Ceylanpinar across the border from Ras Al Ain as the smoke rose from one part fo Syrian town. It is still unclear whether any damage was done from shelling heard on October 18.
Shelling comes after Turkey announced ceasefire
The ceasefire, reportedly, was announced 13 hours ago by U.S Vice President Mike Pence after talks with Turkish President Recip Tayyip Erdogan. Turkey has agreed for a five-day halt to let the Kudush-backed SDF militia to withdraw from a “safe zone” which Turkey wanted to capture.
Donald Trump heaped praises for the deal with Turkey who said that it would save 'millions of lives ' while Turkey called it a victory.
If the deal is enforced, it will achieve all the main goals which Turkey announced when it launched its assault on October 9 to control a strip of Syria which is more than 30 kilometres deep with SDF forces. Politicians from Republican and Democrats side have accused Trump of having betrayed the Kurdish allies who were effective in driving out Islamic State militants, of ignoring the humanitarian costs of Turkey's offensive and being outsmarted by Turkey.
Will the deal be honoured?
It is still unclear whether any damage was done from shelling heard on October 18 and whether the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) will comply with an agreement which will leave Turkish forces in charge of vast territory which Kurds once held with US military support.
(With inputs from agencies)
Updated 16:18 IST, October 18th 2019