ANKARA, June 3. /TASS/. The operation in northern Syria to be carried out by the Turkish army will allow Ankara to take 600 kilometers of the border under control and thus minimize the terrorist threat there, the Turkiye newspaper reported on Friday citing military and diplomatic sources.

The Turkish armed forces will "clear" 470 villages and towns in Syria in the course of the operation, reaching a depth of 45 kilometers in some regions, the newspaper said. The clearing of Tell Rifaat and Manbij from terrorism will enable Turkey to establish a 35-kilometer security zone and accomplish the strategic task set by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Addressing the parliament on Wednesday, Erdogan announced the launch of a new military operation with a view to extending the 30-kilometer security zone established following the operation Peace Spring in October 2019. It was set up between the towns of Azaz and Jerablus north of Aleppo, Afrin was occupied, and the border areas east of the Euphrates River were taken under control.