ANKARA, January 29. /TASS/. Turkish Minister of National Defense Hulusi Akar stated on Tuesday the end of all preparations for carrying out a new trans-border operation in Syria, Haberturk channel reported.

"The Turkish Armed Forces have ended all preparations within the scope of employment. We will carry out all the necessary actions in Manbij and in the east of the Euphrates in due time," the defense minister said.

On December 12, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan declared the intention to start an operation on the eastern Euphrates river bank against the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) and the Democratic Union party in the coming days. Ankara regards them as a Syrian branch of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is outlawed in Turkey.

Turkey carried out two military operations on Syrian territory already: Operation Euphrates Shield and Operation Olive Branch. As a result, a security zone between the border cities of Azaz and Jarabulus was created and Afrin was occupied.