Erdogan again threatens ground operation in Syria ‘whenever he thinks the time is right’

Turkey is “more determined than ever” to protect its border with Syria from Kurdish fighters, the president said today Recep Tayyip Erdogan. “Our business with planes, cannons and drones [μη επανδρωμένα αεροσκάφη] ours is only the beginning. Our determination to protect all of our southern borders (…) with a security zone is stronger today than ever,” he said in a speech to his party’s deputies, AK, in the National Assembly.

“We will continue our air operations without interruption and enter the terrorists’ territory at the moment we see fit,” the Turkish president said.

Turkey launched Operation Crossed Sword on Sundaya series of airstrikes in northern Iraq and northern Syria followed by artillery fire against positions of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and the People’s Protection Units (YPG).

Ankara accuses the two organizations – which they denied – of ordering the attack that killed six people and injured 81 others on November 13 in Istanbul.

Ankara says it has hit 471 targets so far, as reported by international agencies and relayed by the Athens News Agency.

Yesterday, Tuesday night, Turkish artillery bombardment was mainly focused on the iconic city of Kobani, a stronghold of the YPG, which was recaptured from the Islamic State group’s jihadists in 2015 with the support of the West, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.