Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 25
By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:
Turkish Armed Forces are ready for the beginning of new anti-terrorist operations in northern Syria against PYD/YPG, the Syrian wing of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), Turkish National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said.
“The beginning of military operations in northern Syria is an important step in the fight against terrorism,” Akar added, Trend reports referring to the Turkish Ministry of National Defense.
The minister stressed that Turkey is decisive in the fight against terrorists in Syria.
On Dec. 12, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the Turkish Armed Forces would launch a new military operation in northern Syria against PYD/YPG.
Erdogan claimed there were American soldiers in the detachments of the terrorists in Syria.
"Despite that the US promised Turkey that it would not support PYD/YPG, the Syrian wing of the PKK, the US did not keep its word," Erdogan said.
On June 4, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discussed a road map on Syria's Manbij during talks in Washington.
Also, Pompeo and Cavusoglu met in Brussels and discussed the Operation Olive Branch, as well as other issues.
On Jan. 20, the Turkish Armed Forces, together with the Free Syrian Army, launched the Operation Olive Branch in Afrin, Syria.
On Aug. 24, 2016, units of the Turkish Armed Forces began the Operation Euphrates Shield against the "Islamic State" and with the support of the Syrian opposition liberated the border town of Jarablus in northern Syria, as well as al-Bab.
---
Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu