MESOP “THE PERSON HIMSELF”: US SPECIAL ENVOY BRETT McGURK IN PERSON ARRIVED IN KOBANE FOR MEETINGS WITH PYD-LEADERS / TURKEY ALSO INVOLVED

PKK Stops War in Southeast Turkey “on Condition”: Source  – The Syrian Kurdish forces should be allowed to move towards northwest Syria, PKK allegedly asks

KOBANI — BasNews – Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) will stop its military operations in southeastern Turkey if the Democratic Union Party (PYD) is allowed to advance towards eastern Euphrates river in northern Syria, a source revealed.

Raman Yousif, a journalist from Syrian Kurdistan, told BasNews on Wednesday that PYD, US and Turkey are now in talks over the next step in the war on IS in northern Syria, with the Kurds insisting to move onto Jarabulus, Manbij, A’zaz and Mar’e in northeastern Syria.

PYD is allegedly affiliated with PKK which is leading the military operations in Turkey’s mainly Kurdish areas of southeast. Turkey, on the other hand, is very sensitive about the Kurdish forces’ possible advancement towards eastern Euphrates river.

Yousif claimed that PKK has promised to halt its military operations in Nusaybin, Şırnak, Cizre and Batman “if Turkey stops preventing the Syrian Kurdish forces from advancing to the northeast.” He added that PYD is insisting that liberating the northeastern parts of Syria should take priority, and then they agree to take part in a future major operation to liberate Raqqa, the de facto capital city of the Islamic State (IS).

Sources from the Syrian Kurdistan reported today that the US Special Envoy to the Global Coalition Battling IS, Brett McGurk, has arrived in Kobani to meet with Syrian Kurdish forces and discuss the priorities in the north of the country.