Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan highlighted the need to eliminate the swamps of terrorism in northern Syria and Iraq.
Erdogan affirmed that Turkey cannot enjoy peace and feel safe unless the swamps that “produce terrorism” in northern Iraq and Syria are dried up.
Erdogan recently announced that his country will complete its work in Syria regarding combating terrorism when the time is appropriate.
The Turkish army is constantly launching ground and air operations against Kurdish fighters in northern Syria and Iraq, with the aim of fighting what it calls “terrorism.”
Turkey previously asserted that it would continue to combat “terrorism” inside and outside the country, noting that it had prevented the establishment of a “terrorist state” on its southern borders, through operations carried out by its forces in northern Syria.
Ankara launched three military operations in Syria, targeting Kurdish fighters, through which it was able to control large areas of territory, in cooperation with local factions loyal to it.
Turkey has declared that its military forces will not withdraw from northern Syria until the security of its borders is fully guaranteed.
This announcement comes as Turkish forces have escalated drone attacks against positions held by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler stated that Turkey might consider withdrawing its troops from Syria once the security of the Turkish borders is assured.
He emphasized that the issues in the region stem from the power vacuum created by the Syrian government. If the Syrian authorities had the capability to control the border area, the situation would not have escalated to this extent.
The Turkish military presence in northern Syria remains a complex point of contention with Damascus, hindering the progress of normalization talks.
