Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened several times in late May to order a new military operation against two communities in northern Syria, targeting Kurdish fighters he describes as “terrorists.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian warned tonight that any military action by Turkey in Syria would destabilize the region, as Ankara threatened a new military operation on its southern border.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened several times in late May to order a new military operation against two communities in northern Syria, targeting Kurdish fighters he describes as “terrorists.” The Syrian government opposes the possibility of an attack on this area of ​​Syria, which it does not control after the war that broke out in 2011.
“Any Turkish military action in northern Syria would be a destabilizing factor for the region,” Amir-Abdollahian told a news conference in Damascus. The Iranian minister spoke in Persian and his statements were simultaneously translated into Arabic.
Earlier, Amir-Abdollahian was received by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The latter, in a statement, described as “invalid” the Turkish claims” with which Ankara seeks to “justify its attack on Syrian territory” and noted that they “violate the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of international law”.
“This (Turkey) regime is attacking Syrian territory as soon as the Syrian army makes progress against terrorist organizations,” he added.
In the morning, Amir-Abdollahian said that his trip to Syria “mainly aims to achieve peace and security in the region between Syria and Turkey.”
On Monday, the Iranian minister visited Ankara where he said he “understands” the need for a new military operation by Turkey against Kurdish fighters in Syria.
The two communities between which Turkey is planning its operation, Tal Rifaat and Manbij, lie in a 30-kilometer-wide “security zone” that Ankara wants to enforce along the border. The US has also warned that a Turkish operation could destabilize the region and jeopardize the fight against jihadists.
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