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Syrian Kurdish Fighters Begin Pullout From Turkish Border

Sirwan Kajjo

   Syrian Kurdish fighters said they have begun withdrawing from areas
   along the Syria-Turkey border as part of an agreement between the
   United States and Turkey.

   The People's Protection Units (YPG), the main force within the
   U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), announced Tuesday its
   pullout as the first step toward implementing its part of the agreement
   to establish a safe zone in northeast Syria.

   "In the context of the tripartite understandings [between the U.S.,
   Turkey and SDF] regarding border security with Turkey, we have removed
   some earth mounds and a group of YPG fighters has already withdrawn,
   along with their heavy weaponry, to new positions," Zaidan al-Asi,
   co-chair of the defense office at the Kurdish-led administration in
   northeast Syria, said in a televised statement.

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