Turkish, Kurdish forces in Syria said to agree to truce

30 August 2016, 6:29 pm

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Turkish and Kurdish forces in northern Syria have reached a “loose agreement” to stop fighting each other, a US defense official tells AFP.

“In the last several hours, we have received assurance that all parties involved are going to stop shooting at each other and focus on the ISIL threat,” says Colonel John Thomas, Central Command spokesman, using an acronym for the Islamic State group (IS).

“It’s a loose agreement for at least the next couple of days and we are hoping that will solidify.”

Thomas says the Turkish and Syrian Democratic Forces, made up largely of Kurdish fighters from the People’s Protection Units (YPG), have opened communications with the United States and between each other “with the goal of limiting hostilities.”

— AFP