Trump says 'absolutely' plans to create safe zones in Syria

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he "will absolutely do safe zones in Syria for the people," apparently corroborating details of a draft executive order obtained by i24NEWS that calls for "the US to create "a plan to provide safe areas in Syria and in the surrounding region" for displaced residents.


The document says these demilitarized zones would allow refugees to "await firm settlement, such as repatriation or potential third-country resettlement" and gives the government 90 days to prepare a plan for their creation.

A different section of the document establishes an indefinite ban on refugees from Syria from entering the US.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly urged the creation of safe zones in Syria, saying in a January 19 speech that Ankara will establish a de facto safe zone there.

Media reports in 2015 that the US was planning a safe zone were swiftly denied.

A major question is whether such safe zones would have to be backed up by no-fly zones, which could potentially lead to a direct confrontation between the US and Syria or Russia.

Reuters suggested that creating safe zones "could ratchet up US military involvement in Syria and mark a major departure from Obama's more cautious approach."
  [i24news.tv]
26/1/17
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