‘US Will Not Support or be Involved in Turkey’s Operation’

* Photograph: AA / Archive

Click to read the article in Turkish (1) (2) / Kurdish

In a statement for the press released by Press Secretary of the White House Stephanie Grisham, it has been indicated that US President Donald Trump and President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke by phone.

"Turkey will soon be moving forward with its long-planned operation into Northern Syria", the statement has announced and continued as follows:

"The United States Armed Forces will not support or be involved in the operation, and United States forces, having defeated the ISIS territorial 'Caliphate,' will no longer be in the immediate area.

'Turkey will be responsible for captured ISIS fighters'

"The United States Government has pressed France, Germany, and other European nations, from which many captured ISIS fighters came, to take them back, but they did not want them and refused.

"The United States will not hold them for what could be many years and great cost to the United States taxpayer.

"Turkey will now be responsible for all ISIS fighters in the area captured over the past two years in the wake of the defeat of the territorial 'Caliphate' by the United States".

Statement by Presidential Spokesperson Kalın

Presidential Spokesperson İbrahim Kalın has responded to the White House statement with a brief message on Twitter.

"Turkey does not have designs on anyone's land", Kalın has stated and added, "The safe zone as part of Syria's territorial integrity has two objectives: Securing our borders by eliminating terrorist elements and ensuring the safe return of refugees. Turkey is strong and determined".

Minister Çavuşoğlu: We are determined

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu has also shared a message on his official Twitter account:

"[We] have supported the territorial integrity of Syria since the beginning of the crisis and will continue to do so. [We are] determined to ensure survivability and security of Turkey by clearing the region from terrorists. [We] will contribute to bringing safety, peace and stability to Syria." (PT/SD)