DAMASCUS, Nov 1 (NNN-SANA) – Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad, warned, war would be the only option if political means fail to secure Turkey’s troop pullout.
Speaking on Syrian national TV, Assad said, the recent Turkey-Russia deal on creating a safe zone in northern Syria had been conducive in pulling back Kurdish militia from the border region.
“This doesn’t eliminate the negativity of the Turkish occupation,” Assad said, adding that, if all political means are exhausted, to push the Turkish forces to leave, there would be no other choice but war.
Turkey launched a military incursion into northern Syria in early Oct, in a bid to drive Kurdish fighters out of the border region, following the pullout of U.S. troops. Turkey and Russia, a major supporter of Syria, reached a deal last Tuesday, to allow the Kurdish fighters to withdraw 30 km away from the border and conduct joint Turkey-Russia patrols in the region.
Assad said, the entry of Syrian army into Kurdish-held areas, is not only for countering the Turkish attacks, but also will restore the government rule there.
He added, the return of Syrian government to all Kurdish-held areas will be gradual and might take some time.
“Our policy should be rational and gradual, taking into account the facts, but the final goal is for sure the return of the Syrian state’s control” over all Kurdish-held areas, Assad said.
Regarding the presence of U.S. forces in Syria, Assad said, when the Syrians are united against the occupation, the U.S. forces will withdraw by themselves “because they will have no chance to remain in Syria.”
On the Syrian constitutional committee, which is holding its first session in Geneva, Assad said, the Syrian government would approve any outcome of the committee’s work, as long as it’s compatible with the national interest of Syria “even if it is a new constitution.”– NNN-SANA