Source: Turkey behind Terrorists’ Delay in Leaving Al-Tanf

Turkey has played a role in delaying the implementation of a Russian-US agreement to evacuate the militants from al-Tanf region at the borders between Iraq and Syria, Russian media said on Saturday.

The Arabic-language website of Sputnik news agency quoted an informed source as saying that Turkey is behind the delay in transferring all terrorist groups from al-Tanf region and al-Rakban camp to Northern Syria to pave the ground for civilians’ return to their villages and towns.

He added that the Turkish side has not yet fully accepted to transfer the US-backed terrorist groups, including al-Qoryatayn, Maqawir al-Thawra and Ahmad al-Abdou, stationed in al-Tanf to regions in Northern Syria.

Based on the report, Turkey wants to shelter the foreign terrorist groups, including Turkistani, Turkaman, and other militants who consider themselves as remnants of the Ottoman government in Northern Syria and prevent the Syrian militants from residing in that region.

The source also said that delay in the implementation of al-Tanf agreement has also delayed the US forces’ withdrawal which depended on the retreatment of all terrorist groups by receiving government amnesty or their transfer to Northern Syria, adding that Ankara has revealed its opposition after a likely agreement with the US in this regard.

Sources had said last month that Moscow and Washington had held talks to end the presence of US forces and affiliated militants in al-Tanf base at the borders with Iraq, adding that their withdrawal was imminent.

The Arabic-language website of Sputnik news agency quoted informed sources as saying that the Russian and American officials were negotiating the withdrawal of the US forces from al-Tanf region in the bordering triangle of Iraq-Syria-Jordan.

They added that the US and Russian officials were in talks over the final stages of the agreement, noting that plan was to come into effect soon.

The sources underlined that closure of al-Rakban camp which hosts over 80,000 civilians and their return to their villages and towns in different parts of Syria is also included in the agreement.

They said that based on the agreement, thousands of terrorists, trained and supported by the US, will also leave al-Tanf for Idlib, adding that most of their commanders have earlier left the region.

According to the report, members of Jeish Maghawir al-Thawra, Ahmed Abdou and Asoud al-Sharqiyeh terrorist groups are stationed in al-Tanf region in addition to the US, British and Norwegian forces.A