Turkey to launch another Syria operation if area not cleared of YPG

Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Monday (November 18) that Ankara would launch an operation in northeastern Syria if the area was not cleared of PKK-affiliated People's Protection Units (YPG) terrorists.

Cavusoglu said the United States and Russia have not done what was required under agreements that halted Turkey's operation against the YPG terrorists in northeastern Syria last month.

"Have they fulfilled whatever was necessary under the agreements? No, they have not until now. But they should," Cavusoglu told members of the Turkish parliament's planning and budget committee.

The deal stipulated that the YPG, the Syrian affiliate of the internationally recognized terror group PKK, would be removed from a swathe of land bordering Turkey in northeastern Syria.

"If we do not achieve any result, as we had started the operation (before) we will do whatever is necessary (in northern Syria)," he said.

Cavusoglu noted that Turkey has no other solution besides clearing the region of all terror groups.

"We should definitely clear the terror threat just next to us (in northern Syria)," he added.

Turkey on Oct. 9 launched Operation Peace Spring to eliminate YPG terrorists from northern Syria east of the Euphrates River in order to secure Turkey's borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees and ensure Syria's territorial integrity.

Based on DS