Cavusoglu: Military operation in Syria is not related to US pullout

Turkey's foreign minister said on Thursday (Jan. 10) the presence of US-backed terrorist groups in Syria's north posed a threat for the future of the country as well as the entire region.

Mevlut Cavusoglu said a possible Turkish military operation against PKK/YPG terror group east of Euphrates does not hinge on a US troop withdrawal from Syria.     

Cavusoglu added that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is set to hold a bilateral meeting on Syria with his Russian counterpart.

Cavusoglu said Turkey would go ahead with its incursion plan.

"We will decide on its timing and we will not receive permission from anyone, he added"

He also said some officials in the US administration had sought to deter Trump from the pullout plan and create "excuses" like Turkey is massacring Kurds, in reference to Pompeo's comments.

Cavusoglu said Ankara would fight the YPG whether or not the US withdraws from Syria.

He also said he was planning to have a phone call with Pompeo on Thursday.