Turkey has no intention of harming soldiers of allied nations positioned in the region, but that it could not allow terrorists to roam free, says president
Turkey has started preparations to clear northern Syria's Ayn al-Arab, Ras al-Ain and Tel Abyad regions from militants up to the Iraqi border, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Friday, adding that it would also clear terrorists from Iraq.
Erdoğan said Turkey has no intention of harming soldiers of allied nations positioned in the region, but that it could not allow terrorists to roam free.
United States troops are positioned alongside People’s Protection Units (YPG) terrorists in Syria's Manbij. French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday it had assured the YPG of its support to stabilise northern Syria.
The YPG is the armed wing of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), which is the Syrian offshoot of the PKK. The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the European Union and the United States.
Erdoğan criticized credit rating agencies for trying to derail Turkey's economy.
"You know how credit rating agencies reported against our country and how they are struggling to not let global capital come to Turkey," Erdoğan said.
His remarks in the capital Ankara came one day after the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) announced Turkey’s economy grew 7.4 percent in 2017 compared to the previous year.
The president reiterated that Turkey’s banner growth last year put it at the top of G20 countries.
"I hope such a result will be a lesson to everyone at a time when credit rating agencies' grade games and currency speculations have reached a peak," Erdogan said.
The president also called on businessmen and markets to trust Turkey, saying it can overcome problems and realize economic targets with its opportunities and potential.
Erdoğan said France had taken the wrong approach towards Syria, after French President Emmanuel Macron promised the YPG terror group that Paris would help stabilize the northeast of the country.
"We are deeply saddened by the completely wrong approach shown by France, which we hope is a result of misperceptions," Erdoğan said.
A total of 3,800 terrorists have been 'neutralized' since the start of the Turkish-led Operation Olive Branch in Syria's Afrin region, Turkish president said on Friday.
Turkish officials often use the word "neutralized" in their statements to imply the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.
According to Turkish military, Syria’s Afrin region has been taken under “complete” control. In a statement on Saturday, the army said efforts are in progress to help civilians return home in a secure way.
Turkish troops have also been continuing efforts to search and destroy hand-made explosives and mines planted by the terrorists in Afrin.
Operation Olive Branch was launched on Jan. 20 to clear YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorist groups from Afrin in northwestern Syria amid growing threats from the region.
