ISTANBUL, December 13. /TASS/. Ankara sees it as its strategic goal to exterminate People's Defense Units (YPG), which are operating in northern Syria and which it brands as a branch of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (recognized as a terrorist organization in Turkey), Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said.

"The elimination of the YPG is our strategic goal. YPG non-Syrian elements must leave the country as soon as possible. The YPG command must also leave the country. And those who opt to stay must surrender arms," he said in an interview with the NTV television channel.

Turkey’s authorities said earlier that they plan to complete the establishment of a buffer zone in northern Syria to ensure control over the 600-kilometer border section between Turkey and Syria and minimize terrorist threats coming from the neighboring country.