Safe Zone Agreement

Though the stated objective of this policy reversal is to prevent the Islamic State from gaining control over oil fields, it is being speculated that the real reason is to ensure that the Syrian government does not access these resources

As per the Russia-Turkey agreement, Russian and Turkish forces will jointly patrol the 120-km region between Ras al-Ain and Tal Abyad while Kurdish YPG units will move 30 km away from the border

Despite Syrian opposition, oil rich regions in the country’s north-east is set to be divided between the United States and Turkish controlled areas.