BALADI NEWS
The Turkish president said on Sunday Ankara expects U.S. to facilitate the withdrawal of YPG from northern Syria, warns Turkey may resume operation otherwise.
Speaking at an anti-smoking program held in Istanbul, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: “We expect our American allies to keep their promises this time.”
President Erdogan added that a total of 765 YPG, including seniors, were neutralized as part of the country’s counter-terrorism campaign in northern Syria, adding 1,500 square-kilometers of the territory was rescued from the terror group.
Erdogan went onto say that Turkey made the agreement with the U.S., not YPG, and some parties sought to distort this fact.
Stressing that Turkey would enjoy YPG withdrawal from the safe-zone territory, Erdogan said Ankara would take the safe-zone area under protection, adding: “We studied well, all projects are ready.”
On Oct. 9, Turkey had launched Operation Peace Spring to eliminate terrorists from northern Syria in order to secure Turkey’s borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees and ensure Syria’s territorial integrity.
On Oct. 17, Turkey agreed to pause its Operation Peace Spring for 120 hours to allow the withdrawal of terrorist YPG forces from the planned safe zone.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and U.S. Vice President Mike Pence also agreed on Turkey having 20 miles (32 kilometers) of safe zone south of the Turkish border in Syria.
Source: Anadolu Agency.