- Title: Russia-backed Syrian army sweeps in after U.S. announces abrupt exit - wrap
- Date: 14th October 2019
- Summary: ERDOGAN SEES NO ISSUES IN KOBANI AFTER SYRIAN DEPLOYMENT, WELCOMES U.S. WITHDRAWAL ISTANBUL, TURKEY (OCTOBER 14, 2019) (REUTERS) TURKISH PRESIDENT, TAYYIP ERDOGAN, ADDRESSING NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) TURKISH PRESIDENT, TAYYIP ERDOGAN, SAYING: "There are many rumours at the moment. However, especially through the embassy and with the positive approach of Russia in Kobani, it appears there won't be any issues. On Manbij, just as we have made our decision, we are at the stage of implementing it." ERDOGAN SPEAKING TURKEY-BACKED SYRIA FIGHTERS RAISE OPPOSITION FLAG IN TOWN OF TEL ABYAD TEL ABYAD, SYRIA (OCTOBER 14, 2019) (REUTERS) TURKEY-BACKED FIGHTER CLIMBING FLAG POLE TO BRING DOWN SYRIAN KURDISH MILITIA FLAG SYRIAN KURDISH FLAG BEING BROUGHT DOWN SYRIAN KURDISH FLAG BEING REMOVED FIGHTERS PREPARING TO RAISE SYRIAN OPPOSITION FLAG FIGHTERS GATHERED UNDER FLAG POLE / SYRIAN OPPOSITION FLAG FLYING AT MAST EXPLOSIONS ROCK BORDER TOWN OF RAS AL AIN RAS AL AIN, SYRIA (AS FILMED FROM CEYLANPINAR, TURKEY) (OCTOBER 14, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS PLUMES OF SMOKE BILLOWING OUT BEHIND A BUILDING
- Embargoed: 28th October 2019 15:28
- Keywords: Syria Kurdish Turkey Syrian army wrap
- Location: UNKNOWN LOCATION, NEAR MANBIJ; TEL ABYAD; TEL TAMER; AND AIN ISSA, SYRIA / AKCAKALE AND ISTANBUL, TURKEY / RAS AL AIN, SYRIA (AS FILMED FROM CEYLANPINAR, TURKEY) / LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- City: UNKNOWN LOCATION, NEAR MANBIJ; TEL ABYAD; TEL TAMER; AND AIN ISSA, SYRIA / AKCAKALE AND ISTANBUL, TURKEY / RAS AL AIN, SYRIA (AS FILMED FROM CEYLANPINAR, TURKEY) / LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- Country: Various
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
- Reuters ID: LVA004B12KTHJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: THIS VIDEO IS A HIGHLIGHTS WRAP OF MATERIAL THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN MOVED. IT DOES NOT CONTAIN ANY FRESH MATERIAL.
Russia-backed Syrian forces wasted no time in taking advantage of an abrupt U.S. retreat from Syria on Monday (October 14), deploying deep inside Kurdish-held territory south of the Turkish frontier less than 24 hours after Washington announced a full withdrawal.
Washington's Kurdish former allies said they invited in the government troops as an "emergency measure" to help fend off an assault by Turkey, launched last week with "a green light" from U.S. President Donald Trump that the Kurds describe as a betrayal.
Under their deal with the Kurds, government forces are poised to move into border areas from the town of Manbij in the west to Derik, 400 km (250 miles) to the east.
Syrian state media reported troops had entered Tel Tamer, a town on the strategically important M4 highway that runs east-west around 30 km south of the frontier with Turkey.
State TV later showed residents welcoming Syrian forces into the town of Ain Issa, which lies on another part of the highway, hundreds of km (miles) away. An SDF media official said he could not confirm these deployments.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said he does not think any problems will emerge in Syria's Kobani after a Syrian army deployment is carried out along the border.
Speaking to reporters before travelling to Azerbaijan, Erdogan reiterated Turkey would implement its plans for Manbij and settle Arabs there.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg defended his stance on Turkey's attack as he came under pressure from some members of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly to be tougher with Ankara.
Appearing in London at a plenary session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, a body made up of delegates from the legislatures of member states, Stoltenberg said he had expressed deep concerns to Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan when he saw him in Istanbul on Friday (October 11).
(Production: Rosalind Church) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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