Pentagon Chief Says US will Prevent Turkey's Possible 'Unilateral Incursion' in Syria

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US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper has said that they are going to prevent a possible unilateral intervention by Turkey into northern Syria.

Esper spoke to the reporters on the matter as delegations from the US and Turkey were having a meeting on Turkey's possible military operation against the SDF (Syrian Democratic Forces) in the east of the Euphrates River in northern Syria as the Ministry of National Defense stated that the meeting began on 10.30 a.m. local time.

"What we're going to do is prevent unilateral incursions that would upset, again, the mutual interests that the United States, Turkey and the SDF share with regard to northern Syria," he said, adding that the US is trying to work out an agreement that addresses Turkey's concerns.

Saying, "I hope we will get there," Esper did not provide details about whether there is any progress made.

The Washington Post said yesterday (August 5) that the US administration will make the last offer to Turkey to prevent Turkey's military operation in northern Syria which it expects Turkey to start within two weeks.

According to the US plan, the two countries will conduct a joint military operation into an area that is 14.5 kilometers deep and 140 kilometers long on the soil of Syria. Also, "Kurdish fighters" and their positions will be removed and after that, the US and Turkey will conduct joint patrols in the area, the newspaper said, quoting officials from Washington D.C.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Sunday (August 4), "We entered Afrin, Jarablus and Al-Bab and now we are going to enter east of the Euphrates. We shared it with the US and Russia."

Turkey's National Security Council (MGK) stated last week the country will work on establishing a "peace corridor" on Turkey-Syria border. (PT/VK)