Türkiye will not target US, Russia or Iran's forces in Syria offensive, says presidential spokesperson

* Photo: AA (archive)

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Türkiye will not target troops of Russia, the US or Iran in a possible military offensive in Syria's north, the presidential spokesperson has said.

"We have a de-conflicting mechanism with the Russians and the Americans. We don't target Russian or American soldiers or military posts in Syria or elsewhere. Our targets are PKK/PYD/YPG elements, and we tell them to stay away from those elements," Kalın told Al Jazeera during a live interview yesterday (December 4).

"The PYD/YPG is using at one point the American flag, at another point the (Syrian) regime flag to protect itself " he added and rejected the statements coming from Washington that the air strikes of Türkiye are threatening the lives of the US soldiers:

"We have sent our US allies the message that we will not target the US forces, civilians, the forces of Russia or Iran or others, that our targets are especially PKK and PYD/YPG elements."

YPG and ISIS

"To say that 'keeping of ISIS prisoners cannot be guaranteed in case Türkiye starts a ground offensive to the north of Syria' means that PYD/YPG are holding the ISIS prisoners as hostage for negotiations, for taking more military, political and media support from the US and Europe," 

Speaking about the explosion in Taksim, İstanbul on November 13 where six people have lost their lives, Kalın said that "they had tangible evidence that the Democratic Union Party (PYD) and the People's Defense Units (YPG) in Syria are behind the attack."

Kalın said that the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK) "changed tactics," and added, "Rather than using Syrian, say Kurds or others, they are using other people from different nationalities. To cover themselves up."

"We will not ask for permission"

Responding to a question on if Russia and Iran have given green light to a possible ground offensive by Türkiye, Kalın said, "We will not ask for permission when we are facing a national security threat, we only coordinate with our allies."

Kalın said, "Washington administration must keep the PYD/YPG elements 30 kilometers away from the Türkiye border according to the agreement reached in 2019, but this agreement is being violated."

Another question was addressed to Kalın about the statements from PYD/YPG that "keeping of Daesh/ISIS prisoners cannot be guaranteed in case Türkiye starts a ground offensive to the north of Syria."

Kalın replied, "This shows that PYD/YPG are holding the ISIS prisoners as hostage for negotiations, for taking more military, political, and media support from the US and Europe."

What happened?

On November 13, a bomb attack in İstanbul's popular tourist area of Taksim killed six people and injured 81 others.

Türkiye claimed the PKK and the Kurdish groups in Syria had orchestrated the attack, citing statements of some suspects. Those groups denied involvement in the attack.

In the early hours of November 20, Türkiye launched airstrikes in the north of Syria and Iraq, targeting Kurdish groups.

Some 70 aircraft hit 89 targets, with 44 targets at a depth of 20 kilometers into Syria, the government announced.

On the same day, a rocket was fired from Syria near the Öncüpınar border crossing in Kilis, injuring eight security personnel. The Afrin Liberation Forces (HRE) claimed the attack.

The next day, a mortar attack targeted the border district of Karkamış in Antep, killing three civilians. No group claimed responsibility for the attack.

The National Defense Ministry announced on November 23 that it had hit more than 400 targets in four days in artillery strikes. (SD/PE/VK)