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Erdogan says, operation in Syria, Iraq not discussed with Putin, Biden

According to the Turkish leader, Ankara is resolute in its counterterrorism efforts

ANKARA, November 21. /TASS/. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that there was no discussion about the Turkish army’s air operation in northern Iraq and Syria.

"We did not discuss the issue of holding the operation neither with esteemed US President Biden nor with esteemed [Russian President] Putin. Both Biden and Putin know that we are capable of holding such operations, as we say, at any time," Erdogan told the presidential pool upon returning from Qatar, as cited by the NTV channel on Monday.

According to the Turkish leader, Ankara is resolute in its counterterrorism efforts. "If we make a decision to take some step [in this direction], then we take it. The US should have taken notice of this by now and apparently, it has. I hope that everyone will see what kind of bigger and more resolute steps we take in the future. The steps that should be taken,’ he noted. "Of course, we are upset that we are together with the US and NATO but, unfortunately, it was precisely the US that sent thousands of units of equipment, gear, munitions and weapons to a terrorist region in Syria," the Turkish president said, adding that this had been happening during the Obama and Trump administration and continues during the Biden administration.

"You [the US] and I are in NATO together, we are two important allies. By supporting a terrorist organization that threatens us from the south, you are creating problems for us that we cannot tolerate. We will be forced to respond as necessary when it is needed," Erdogan noted.

Overnight on November 20, Turkey held air operation "Claw-Sword" in northern Iraq and Syria which involved over 50 aircraft and 20 drones. Strikes were delivered on deployment sites of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which is outlawed in Turkey, and its Syrian offshoot, the National Defense Forces. The Turkish Defense Ministry said the operation was successful, noting that main bases and sites with dense concentrations of terrorists were eliminated. The operation’s outcome has not yet been announced.

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Syria Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan

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