Erdogan on Syria bombings: We want a “security zone from West to East”

The Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoganwho has launched a series of airstrikes in northeastern Syria and against Kurdish militant positions since Sunday, reiterated today that his goal is to create a “security zone from West to East” along Turkey’s southern border, while the minister Defense Hulusi Akar said that during the Turkish operation more than 300 Kurdish fighters have been “neutralized” so far.

The safe zone Erdogan spoke of would de facto include the iconic city of Kobani, which the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces recaptured in 2015.with the support of the United States, by the jihadists of the Islamic State organization.

“With the safety zone we are creating beyond our borders, we will defend the rights of millions of innocent women and children,” Erdogan said during his speech on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

“God willing, we will complete this zone as soon as possible along our entire border from the West to the East,” he insisted.

The district of Kobani is the last to escape the control of the Turkish army which has been deployed since 2019 on Syrian territory along the border, as reported by international agencies and relayed by the Athens News Agency.

The Turkish president, who intends to launch, “when the time comes”, a ground attack, said that the Syrian cities of “Tal Rifat, Manbij, Ain al-Arab (s.s.: Kobani in Kurdish)” would be included in ‘ this 30 km wide security zone along its southern border Turkey.

Nevertheless this ground attack is not going to start immediatelyan official who asked not to be named told AFP.

Abdulkadir Selvi, a columnist for the Hurriyet newspaper who is believed to be very close to the head of state, also said this week that the Turkish military must first complete Operation Forked Sword, which it has been waging since April against Kurdish positions in northern Iraq. .

“After that, the countdown to the ground operation against Syria should begin. This time a much more extensive operation is planned,” he assured.

“So far 326 terrorists have been neutralized”

Meanwhile, Turkey announced that more than 300 Kurdish fighters had been “neutralized” so far in Sunday’s offensive in northern Syria and northern Iraq.

“Operation Forked Sword continues with punitive airstrikes and ground support vehicles. So far, 326 terrorists have been neutralized,” the Turkish Defense Minister said today. Hulusi Akaraccording to the state-run Turkish news agency Anadolu.

Ankara uses the term “neutralization” for fighters who are killed or captured.

The operation targets the Syrian Kurdish militia People’s Protection Units (YPG) as well as the armed Turkish Kurdish separatist organization the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

Akar also denied reports that Turkish strikes were carried out near a US base in Syria.

“There is no question of harming coalition forces or civilians,” the minister asserted.