Turkey, Russia, the United States’ Syrian Kurdish allies and the Syrian government all have a strategic interest in any arrangement for the future of northern Syria, yet most of their demands are diametrically opposed. The United States’ Kurdish allies, who fear persecution at Turkish hands, want the Turks kept out. The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that the U.S. military is eyeing an April deadline for the troops to leave. U.S. officials say they are committed to negotiating a handover agreement, but they also stress the troops will pull out regardless. But that approach does not satisfy the United States’ concerns for the safety of its Kurdish allies or Russia’s desire to restore Syrian government control.

Source: Washington Post February 08, 2019 21:33 UTC