This archive report was first published on 14 October 2019.
On October 13, 2019, Syria's Kurds announced a historic deal with Damascus to deploy Syrian troops near the Turkish border, amidst Turkey's relentless assault that has killed scores of civilians and fighters.
The announcement came as the United States ordered the withdrawal of almost its entire ground force in Syria, citing Turkey's unexpected push into Syrian territory.
Defense Secretary Mark Esper stated that the US withdrawal of 1,000 troops was a result of Washington learning that Turkey was advancing further into Syria than anticipated.
Turkey's cross-border offensive, which includes air strikes, shelling, and a ground incursion manned mainly by Syrian proxy fighters, has sparked an international outcry and a looming humanitarian crisis.
The Kurds feel betrayed by the United States, their former ally in the fight against the Islamic State, and are now left to fend for themselves against Turkish forces.
According to the Kurdish administration, the deal with Damascus was a necessary step to stop the assault, with Syrian troops deploying along the Syrian-Turkish border to assist the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
France's President Emmanuel Macron warned of an 'unbearable humanitarian situation' and called for the Turkish offensive to cease, while Italy's Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte pressed for an EU ban on arms sales to Turkey.
On the ground, the Kurdish administration reported that Turkish bombardment near a camp for the displaced led to nearly 800 relatives of IS members fleeing, with some 12,000 IS fighters detained in Kurdish prisons.
