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Conflict in Syria

Turkey to enter Syria’s Manbij if Kurdish militias fail to leave area, Erdogan warns

On December 12, the Turkish leader said that Ankara was ready to begin an offensive against Kurdish units east of the Euphrates River in Syria

© Turkish Defence Ministry via AP

ANKARA, December 14. /TASS/. Turkish troops will enter Syria’s Manbij if Kurdish units fail to leave the city, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at an Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) event in Istanbul on Friday.

Read also

Turkish top diplomat: US efforts in Syria to lack legitimacy as long as Kurds are involved

"We are determined to ensure stability and security east of the Euphrates River [in Syria]. If Manbij is not cleared [of Kurdish units], then we will enter the city," he said.

According to the Turkish president, "the United States is trying to distract Turkey by delaying the implementation of the Manbij roadmap." "The US seeks to weaken our resolve to fight against terrorists," Erdogan added.

On Wednesday, the Turkish leader said that Ankara might soon launch a military operation east of the Euphrates River in Syria in order to target Kurdish fighters.

Turkey previously carried out two military operations in Syria dubbed Olive Branch and Euphrates Shield. Erdogan said at a press conference following the G20 summit in Argentina that Ankara would soon clear areas east of the Euphrates River from terrorist units.

Over the past several months, the Turkish president has many times announced plans to carry out an operation against the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) concentrated east of the Euphrates River. Ankara believes the YPG to be a branch of the branch of the Kurdistan Workers' Party.

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