ANKARA, May 24 (NNN-ANADOLU) – Turkey is preparing for a new military operation in northern Syria, to establish a 30-km deep safe zone along its southern border, Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said yesterday.
“As soon as the Turkish armed forces complete its intelligence and security preparations, these operations will begin,” Erdogan said, at a press conference, after the cabinet meeting.
The operation will target the regions in northern Syria, where the Turkish military does not have control and are “centres of attacks to our country and our safe zones,” he said.
Turkey’s forces and Syria’s Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) members, often exchange fire in the region and the clashes have accelerated since early this year.
The Turkish National Security Council will discuss the issue on Thursday, he said.
The Turkish army launched Operation Euphrates Shield in 2016, Operation Olive Branch in 2018, Operation Peace Spring in 2019, and Operation Spring Shield in 2020, in northern Syria, aiming to eliminate terror threats and provide a safe zone that will facilitate the return of Syrian refugees to their homes.
Ankara sees the YPG as the Syrian branch of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
The PKK, listed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the United States and the EU, has been rebelling against the Turkish government for more than three decades.– NNN-ANADOLU
