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President Tayyip Erdogan stated on Wednesday that Turkey will rid northern Syria’s Tal Rifaat and Manbij areas of terrorists, confirming the targets of the brand new incursion for the primary time and saying it is going to proceed into different areas.
His feedback, in a speech to lawmakers from his ruling AK Occasion, got here every week after he pledged a brand new navy incursion on Turkey’s southern border in opposition to the U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish militia YPG, which Ankara views as a terrorist group.
“We’re going into the brand new section of our willpower to type a 30-km deep protected zone alongside our southern border. We are going to clear Tal Rifaat and Manbij of terrorists, and we are going to do the identical to different areas step-by-step,” he stated.
“Let’s have a look at who helps these reliable steps by Turkey and who hinders them,” Mr. Erdogan added.
Ankara has carried out 4 operations in northern Syria since 2016, seizing lots of of kilometres of land and pushing some 30-km deep into the nation, primarily concentrating on the YPG.
Whereas backing opposing sides in Syria’s struggle, Turkey has coordinated with Russia on its navy operations.
Turkey’s cross-border operations have been criticised by its NATO allies, notably the US and a few have imposed a collection of arms embargoes on Ankara. Washington expressed concern at any new offensive in northern Syria, saying it might put the U.S. troops in danger and undermine regional stability.
Ankara’s announcement of a brand new offensive in Syria coincides with its objections to Finland and Sweden’s NATO bids on the grounds that they again Kurdish militants and teams Turkey deems terrorists, and due to arms embargoes imposed by over a 2019 Turkish offensive into northern Syria.
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