US hails German idea of international 'safe zone' in Syria

• NATO member Turkey's military operation in northern Syria is to dominate a meeting of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation defence ministers in Brussels on Thursday and Friday.
• US ambassador said her country hailed the idea launched by German Defence Minister of international forces creating a security zone in northeastern Syria.
• A pull-out by US forces in northern Syria ordered early this month by President Donald Trump opened the way for Turkey to launch an offensive against Kurdish forces.

BRUSSELS: The US ambassador to NATO on Wednesday welcomed an idea floated by Germany of Europe possibly contributing to a so-called "safe zone" inside Syria, but other Alliance members expressed consternation.

NATO member Turkey's military operation in northern Syria is to dominate a meeting of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation defence ministers in Brussels on Thursday and Friday.

The issue has become even more controversial after Turkey on Tuesday sealed a deal with Moscow for Russian forces to help clear Kurdish fighters from the "safe zone" it is creating in northern Syria and to patrol the area.

US ambassador Kay Bailey Hutchison said her country hailed the idea launched by German Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer of international forces creating a security zone in northeastern Syria.

Kramp-Karrenbauer told broadcaster Deutsche Welle on Monday that European forces, including from Germany, could be part of that mission, to resume the fight against the Islamic State (IS) group and "stabilise the region".

Hutchison said the idea "to put together a European group that would be part of a peacekeeping group would certainly be positive".

She added: "If the Turks ask for more help from the international community, I think the Europeans could step forward and I think the German minister along with France and the UK could answer that call and it would be a positive thing."

A pull-out by US forces in northern Syria ordered early this month by President Donald Trump opened the way for Turkey to launch an offensive against Kurdish forces previously allied with the US.