Syria condemns Turkish statements regarding "safe zone" in the North
The Syrian Foreign Ministry condemns Turkey's "aggressive threats in northern Syria," describing it as a "blatant violation of international law."
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Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Archive)
Syria re-affirmed that "Turkey's aggressive threats in northern Syria constitute "a blatant violation of international law and the country's territorial unity and safety."
An official source in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates said the Syrian Arab Republic is following up on "the aggressive statements of the Turkish regime regarding the establishment of the so-called 'safe zone' in northern Syria and the repeated and continuous attacks on Syrian territory, which have claimed the lives of a number of innocent citizens."
The source added that the Turkish statements also contradict the understanding of the "Astana process and its outcomes."
The Turkish practices in northern Syria are "a serious threat to peace and security in the region, and torpedoing all previous understandings under international auspices, which took place at the lines of the de-escalation zones," the source said.
This comes after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on May 23 that the Turkish army intends to carry out military operations to combat terrorism at the Turkish state borders, explaining that his government "will start taking new steps to complete the safe zone 30 km north of Syria ".
Read next: Turkey attacks western Al-Hasakah, injures 6 Syrian soldiers
On June 1, Erdogan spoke again of his goals in northern Syria, saying that Turkey will clear the areas of Tell Rifaat and Manbij in northern Syria from terrorists.
Syrian field sources told Al Mayadeen, a few days ago, that Russia wants to send warning messages to Turkey, indicating its readiness to prevent any new Turkish military operation in the northern part of the country, as well as to prove its continued military presence in the region.
Read more: Russia mobilizes air defenses near US-led coalition base in Qamishli
Ankara has carried out 4 operations in northern Syria since 2016, occupying hundreds of kilometers of land, and those operations focused on a 30-kilometer-wide strip.
