The Safe Zone, a Mechanism to Maintain Stability in Northeastern Syria

A delegation of the US-led Global Coalition to defeat The Islamic State (ISIS) had met two days ago with the local Military Councils of Sari Kaniye/Ras al-Ain and Gire Spi/Tal Abyad in northern Syria to discuss the latest developments regarding the establishment of a “security mechanism” to maintain the stability in north and east of Syria. 

There has been recently much talk about the establishment of the so-called “safe zone” in conjunction with growing Turkish threats to invade the SDF-controlled areas in north and east of Syria. 

While the United States, Turkey, and the SDF have agreed on a “safe zone” from which the People’s Protection Units (YPG) will withdraw, according to statements which were made by the US special envoy to Syria James Jeffrey, last week. 

According to reliable military sources, a delegation composed of the Global Coalition command in northeastern Syria, leaders of the US special forces who are responsible for the implementation of the “security mechanism” on the Syrian-Turkish borders, and representatives of the US State Department met with the officials of the Military Councils of Sari Kaniye/Ras al-Ain and Gire Spi/Tal Abyad in northern Syria in the last two days.  

According to those sources, the discussions were included the details which were agreed upon between the US and Turkey and were approved by the SDF General Command, and then they were disclosed for both military councils. 

According to the Global Coalition command in northeastern Syria, the SDF is a key side in the US-Turkish agreement regarding the “security mechanism” through which the stability in the region will be maintained after the expulsion of ISIS. 

The Coalition command has confirmed that the partnership and the cooperation between the Coalition forces and the SDF will continue in the region.  

While the US calls the agreement between them and the SDF as a “security mechanism” to continue maintaining the area which is already safe in northeastern Syria. 

According to the sources, the “security mechanism” will be implemented in the area between Ras al-Ain and Tal Abyad. 

As the US side has revealed to the Military Council of Ras al-Ain during the meeting which was held on August 22, that Turkey has concerns about the southern side of its borders, because “This area reflects the area which extends from Ras al-Ain to Tal Abyad”. 

During the meeting, the US delegation has confirmed that “Turkey is an important partner for the United States in the region, it is important for our interests in the Middle East and Europe”. 

The US delegation also confirmed that they are aware of the SDF’s fears of the “security mechanism” which is going to be implemented in stages.  

According to military sources which have revealed the content of the agreement to North-Press, the US has negotiated with Turkey on behalf of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) i.e. on behalf of the military and political sides in order to avoid this conflict. 

During the two separate meetings in Ras al-Ain and Tal Abyad, the US delegation has confirmed that they represent the interests of the SDF in the negotiations with Turkey.  

They also stressed at the two meetings that “the presence of the US forces is the guarantor of the success of this security mechanism”, and it has stressed that it will remain in northeastern Syria and that it will go on in its mission to defeat ISIS with its partner, the SDF.

  

In both meetings of Ras al-Ain and Tal Abyad, the US State Department representative has stressed that “We have a political team led by Amb. James Jeffrey, who is working to keep the situation in northeastern Syria as it is and to maintain security, and through the ongoing negotiations, we are trying to reach a political solution”. 

“The US stance regarding SDF and Turkey is to maintain the stable situation in northeastern Syria, and to go on fighting ISIS”, the State Department representative said.

 

At the end of the two meetings, the US delegation which leads the Global Coalition said that “the thing that we are focusing on, is the implementation of the points which were previously approved by the SDF”.