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‘Crooked idea’: Ankara lashes out at France’s Macron over ‘Syria invasion’ remark | ‘Crooked idea’: Ankara lashes out at France’s Macron over ‘Syria invasion’ remark |
(35 minutes later) | |
The Turkish PM has hit back at French President Emmanuel Macron over his remark, which suggested Ankara’s military operation in Syria may be an invasion and a problem for Paris. Turkey insists the op is counter-terrorism. | The Turkish PM has hit back at French President Emmanuel Macron over his remark, which suggested Ankara’s military operation in Syria may be an invasion and a problem for Paris. Turkey insists the op is counter-terrorism. |
Macron questioned Turkey’s motives for going after the Kurdish enclave of Afrin in northwestern Syria in an interview with Le Figaro newspaper published on Wednesday. | Macron questioned Turkey’s motives for going after the Kurdish enclave of Afrin in northwestern Syria in an interview with Le Figaro newspaper published on Wednesday. |
“If it turns out that this operation takes a turn other than to fight a potential terrorist threat to the Turkish border and becomes an invasion operation, [then] this becomes a real problem for us,” he said. | “If it turns out that this operation takes a turn other than to fight a potential terrorist threat to the Turkish border and becomes an invasion operation, [then] this becomes a real problem for us,” he said. |
Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim dismissed the remark, saying “Turkey is never acting with an occupying mindset” and calling Macron’s suggestion a “crooked idea.” | Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim dismissed the remark, saying “Turkey is never acting with an occupying mindset” and calling Macron’s suggestion a “crooked idea.” |
“If France is interpreting this issue as an [invasion operation], we need to assess what they have done in Syria accordingly,” he told a news conference in Ankara, speaking alongside visiting his visiting Lebanese counterpart Saad Hariri. | “If France is interpreting this issue as an [invasion operation], we need to assess what they have done in Syria accordingly,” he told a news conference in Ankara, speaking alongside visiting his visiting Lebanese counterpart Saad Hariri. |
“Those who want to make sense of what we are doing in Afrin should look at the 2,000km [1,242-mile] area covering Manbij, Jarabulus, and Azez as part of Operation Euphrates Shield,” he added, referring to the previous Turkish military operation in Syria, which was launched in 2016. | “Those who want to make sense of what we are doing in Afrin should look at the 2,000km [1,242-mile] area covering Manbij, Jarabulus, and Azez as part of Operation Euphrates Shield,” he added, referring to the previous Turkish military operation in Syria, which was launched in 2016. |
Turkey commenced a ground and air offensive against Afrin last week, saying it was targeting the Kurdish YPG militias, which it considers an extension of the Turkey-based militant movement PKK. The YPG were crucial for the US-led siege of Raqqa, the now-destroyed stronghold of Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS). | Turkey commenced a ground and air offensive against Afrin last week, saying it was targeting the Kurdish YPG militias, which it considers an extension of the Turkey-based militant movement PKK. The YPG were crucial for the US-led siege of Raqqa, the now-destroyed stronghold of Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS). |
READ MORE: Turkish op in Afrin leaves ‘grim tally’ of children killed, ‘fleeing families’ in Syria – UNICEF | READ MORE: Turkish op in Afrin leaves ‘grim tally’ of children killed, ‘fleeing families’ in Syria – UNICEF |
The new Turkish operation, called Olive Branch, was launched days after the Pentagon announced it was planning to arm and train a predominantly Kurdish “border security force” based in Afrin. Ankara branded the planned force a “terrorist army” and moved to preemptively attack the Kurdish militias. | The new Turkish operation, called Olive Branch, was launched days after the Pentagon announced it was planning to arm and train a predominantly Kurdish “border security force” based in Afrin. Ankara branded the planned force a “terrorist army” and moved to preemptively attack the Kurdish militias. |
The Kurdish issue has strained Turkey’s relations with the US, its long-time ally and fellow NATO member. The deterioration started during Barack Obama’s presidency and has failed to reverse under the Trump administration, which is pursuing a more active US involvement in the Syrian crisis. | The Kurdish issue has strained Turkey’s relations with the US, its long-time ally and fellow NATO member. The deterioration started during Barack Obama’s presidency and has failed to reverse under the Trump administration, which is pursuing a more active US involvement in the Syrian crisis. |
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