Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu says delaying operation east of the Euphrates River was ‘logical’ for preventing 'friendly fire' with US
Turkey may delay operation east of the Euphrates River, but it does not mean the country has given up on operations to be conducted in the future, Turkish foreign minister said on Friday.
“It doesn’t mean that we gave up on our determination and operations we will launch against the YPG in the future,” Mevlut Cavusoglu told Turkish state broadcaster TRT News in an exclusive interview during his official visit to Malta.
Cavusoglu said postponing the operation east of the Euphrates was a “logical” decision for preventing “friendly fire” in the region, following the U.S. decision to withdraw troops from Syria.
On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered all of the U.S. forces in Syria to withdraw from the country, saying Daesh's defeat was his sole reason for being in the civil war-torn country.
The U.S. began its air campaign in Syria in 2014, deploying troops to the country to assist in the anti-Daesh fight alongside local partners the year after.
Reports have suggested U.S. forces will leave within 60 to 100 days.
The withdrawal comes on the eve of a possible Turkish military operation in the northeastern Syria against the YPG/PKK terrorist group.
Since 2016, Ankara has carried out two similar military operations in the northern Syria.
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