Turkish president pledges Syria “safe zone”

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that his troops will create a 32km-wide security zone in northern Syria as suggested by U.S. President Donald Trump, as both leaders seek to ease tensions over the fate of Kurdish fighters in the war-torn country


Safe zone: Could extend for more than 400km along Turkish-Syrian border held by Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), which Turkey views as terrorist group

TURKEY
Latakia
LEBANON
Damascus
ISRAEL
Aleppo
Homs
SYRIA
JORDAN
Raqqa
Deir al-Zour
IRAQ
Sparsely populated areas
Mosul
Irbil
Kirkuk
Tikrit
Baghdad
IRAN

100km 60 miles


Areas of control: As of January 7, 2019

Syrian government and allies

Kurdish forces

Turkish-backed Syrian rebels and Turkish forces

Syrian opposition forces

Iraqi government

So-called Islamic State group

U.S. military positions


Sources: Associated Press, BBC, New York Times 
© GRAPHIC NEWS