As both the US and Russia failed to keep their promises on the YPG/PKK terrorist group in northern Syria withdrawing 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) from Turkiye’s southern border, the terror group continues to carry out terror attacks in the region liberated by the Turkish Armed Forces and Syrian National Army (SNA).

​​​​​​​Turkiye made separate agreements with the US and Russia on the withdrawal of YPG/PKK elements as the Turkish Armed Forces were carrying out Operation Peace Spring, which began on Oct. 9, 2019 in northern Syria.

After pledging the withdrawal of the YPG/PKK terror group 30 km (18.6 mi.) south of the Turkish border in line with the agreements, the US and Russia have failed to keep their promises for fully two-and-a-half-years.

During a visit to Turkiye by then-US Vice President Mike Pence eight days into Operation Peace Spring, the US side pledged that the terror group would withdraw 32 km (20 mi.) south from the border, but Washington did not fulfill this commitment.

Russia also committed to the removal of the terrorist group from Tal Rifat and Manbij under an agreement reached with Turkiye during Operation Peace Spring.

Moreover, despite the commitment that Moscow would make sure the terrorists would withdraw 30 km (18.6 mi.) from the Turkish border on the M4 highway in northwestern Syria to areas outside of Operation Peace Spring, Russia did nothing to fulfill its pledge.

YPG/PKK in Manbij, Tal Rifat, and Ayn Al-Arab, Syria

The YPG/PKK terrorists still threaten the secure atmosphere of the safe regions with their terrorist attacks in northern Syria.

The YPG/PKK mostly carries out terror attacks in Manbij, Ayn Al-Arab, and the Tal Rifat district of Aleppo. The terror group even uses these regions as bases for its attacks.

The YPG/PKK, which occupied approximately one-third of Syria's territory with support from the US, often targets Azaz, Marea, al-Bab, Jarablus, Afrin, Tel Abyad, and Ras al-Ayn in northern Syria with heavy weapons.

The YPG/PKK terrorists often target Turkish security forces who provide security in the operations Euphrates Shield, Olive Branch and Peace Spring areas, and try to infiltrate the positions of Syrian opposition fighters from regions that the terror group was supposed to withdraw from under the agreements with the US and Russia.

After chairing a Cabinet meeting in the capital Ankara on Monday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: "We will soon take new steps on the incomplete portions of the project we started on the 30-km (18.6-mi.) safe zone we established along our southern border."

Erdogan said that the operation would be launched as soon as military, intelligence, and security forces have completed their preparations./aa