Author: Ace Toksabayi
ANKARA, January 19 (Reuters) – Ankara considers the integration agreement between the Syrian government and Kurdish forces to be a “historic turning point” after Turkish intelligence agencies played an important role in ensuring that all parties involved exercise restraint, security sources said on Monday.
Sources said Turkey, a staunch supporter of Syrian President Ahmed Salat, views the deal as crucial to restoring state authority across Syria and its goal of eradicating domestic terrorism, including advancing its long-standing efforts to secure peace with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
Ankara is the strongest foreign backer of the government in neighboring Damascus and has threatened military action against the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Forces (SDF) in the north if the group does not agree to accept central government control.
Syria and the SDF reached a broad agreement on Sunday to integrate Kurdish civilian and military authorities, ending days of fighting by Syrian forces to seize territory including key oil fields.
Turkish security sources say the fight against Islamic State in Syria will continue uninterrupted despite the deal.
Turkish intelligence agency MIT has been in talks with the United States, which brokered Sunday’s deal, and the Syrian government ahead of a deal, sources said. They added that MIT also remains in close contact with Syria until an agreement is reached to ensure that all parties exercise restraint, including protecting civilians and critical infrastructure.
(Reporting by Ece Toksabay; Editing by Jonathan Spicer)
