Pentagon official to North-Press: The establishment of security mechanism on the borders will be implemented gradually
Washington DC – Hadeel Oweis – North-Press Agency
The Pentagon spokesman Sean Robertson told North-Press that recent talks with Turkey have made progress in establishing a secure mechanism in northern and eastern Syria to address Turkey’s concerns by establishing a joint operations center for planning and implementation.
Robertson added that the mechanism of “establishing security” on the border would be implemented gradually and in stages as the United States prepares to carry out some activities quickly.
Robertson said the United States is still fully committed to guaranteeing a sustainable defeat for the Islamic state group.
A State Department official told North-Press about the areas to be included in the new mechanism, saying: “The areas have not yet been fully defined and will be determined in agreement with all parties in the northeast of Syria.”
When he was asked whether the opposition groups, which are armed and supported by Turkey, would enter the new areas east of Syria, or participate in the administration, the State Department official stated: “The region’s administration will be managed jointly between the United States, Turkey and the current local councils that are responsible in their areas, with some of YPG units pledging to withdraw from some of the newly created areas that have been agreed upon.”
Regarding al-Hawl camp area, which includes dozens of thousands of Islamic State prisoners, the State Department official told North-Press that the region, the detention camps and the manner of its management will remain the same.
The US-Turkish talks in Ankara have reached an agreement to establish a “safe corridor” and a joint operations center to manage the region to be established in northern Syria on the border with Turkey.
The statement didn’t give much details regarding the “safe corridor”, but would be a center to ensure the return of Syrian refugees to their country.
The statement also pointed out that the headquarters of the operating room will be based in Turkey, and will be established as soon as possible.