President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has pledged to continue Syria offensive till the completion of his safe zone plan despite the US and other nations’ demands of an immediate ceasefire. Turkish forces started operation in northern Syria about a week ago to end the monopoly of Kurdish fighters from borders after US troops emptied the region.
Mr. Erdogan refused to meet with US Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Both officials will travel Ankara on Thursday to meet Turkish President following President Donald Trump’s order. However, the Turkish President said that US Vice President and Secretary of State would only talk with their Turkish counterparts. He said that I will only talk with Mr. Trump when he will come here.
Turkey initiated offensive against Kurds as it considers them a terrorist organization. Earlier, Kurdish forces deal with government forces to repel the Turkish assault. Today, Mr. Erdogan offered the terror organizations in northern Syria that Turkey’s military operation could be ended if they put down their weapons and vacate the designated area to complete his safe zone plan. He insisted that the offensive will only end after the clearance of his planned safe zone from Manbij to the border of Iraq. Mr. Erdogan also refuted the requests of a ceasefire with the group by foreign leaders.
Analysts and critics said that Mr. Trump’s decision of US troops’ pullout from northern Syria has encouraged Turkey for the offensive. However, Trump administration denied the charges and levied sanctions against Turkish ministries to press them for a truce.
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