US Syria envoy to travel to Turkey for talks

WASHINGTON

U.S. special envoy for Syria, James Jeffrey, is traveling to Turkey this week, according to State Department on Wednesday.

Jeffrey will travel to Ankara and Istanbul to meet with senior Turkish officials and members of the Syrian opposition Nov. 8 -9.

“Ambassador Jeffrey is leading an interagency delegation to discuss issues of mutual concern to include, the current situation in northeast Syria, implementation of UNSCR 2254 on the resolution of the Syrian conflict, and our continued efforts to ensure an enduring defeat of ISIS," said the department, using another name for the Daesh terror group.

Jeffrey was in Ankara last month as part of a high-level U.S. delegation led by Vice President Mike Pence to discuss Turkey's anti-terror operation in northeastern Syria.

Ankara agreed with Washington on Oct. 17 to pause a military operation to allow YPG/PKK terrorists to withdraw from the planned safe zone for five days.

Turkey launched the Operation Peace Spring on Oct. 9 to eliminate terrorist YPG/PKK elements east of the Euphrates River in order to secure Turkey’s borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees, and ensure Syria’s territorial integrity.