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Turkey-Syria offensive: Erdogan vows to press on with 'safe zone' plan | Turkey-Syria offensive: Erdogan vows to press on with 'safe zone' plan |
(32 minutes later) | |
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has vowed to press on with an offensive in northern Syria until his mission to create a "safe zone" is complete. | Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has vowed to press on with an offensive in northern Syria until his mission to create a "safe zone" is complete. |
Turkish troops and allied Syrian rebels launched an operation to clear a Kurdish militia from a border area last week, after US troops pulled out. | Turkish troops and allied Syrian rebels launched an operation to clear a Kurdish militia from a border area last week, after US troops pulled out. |
The Turkish government views the militia as a terrorist group. | The Turkish government views the militia as a terrorist group. |
Mr Erdogan has also said he will meet the US vice-president on Thursday after all, despite appearing to rule it out. | Mr Erdogan has also said he will meet the US vice-president on Thursday after all, despite appearing to rule it out. |
He told Sky News on Wednesday that an American delegation including Mike Pence and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo would only "meet their counterparts" in Ankara. | |
"I am standing tall. I will not meet them," he said. "I will speak when Trump comes." | "I am standing tall. I will not meet them," he said. "I will speak when Trump comes." |
Following the comments, a spokeswoman for Mr Pence said he would still be travelling to Turkey. | Following the comments, a spokeswoman for Mr Pence said he would still be travelling to Turkey. |
Mr Erdogan's communications director then tweeted a clarification: "He does plan to meet the US delegation led by @VP tomorrow." | Mr Erdogan's communications director then tweeted a clarification: "He does plan to meet the US delegation led by @VP tomorrow." |
Fahrettin Altun also included a video clip of the president telling Turkish reporters: "For the moment, I am not meeting anyone other than Pence and Pompeo." | Fahrettin Altun also included a video clip of the president telling Turkish reporters: "For the moment, I am not meeting anyone other than Pence and Pompeo." |
Turkey launched the offensive in northern Syria a week ago to push back from its border members of a Syrian Kurdish militia called the People's Protection Units (YPG) and create a 32km (20-mile) deep "safe zone" along the Syrian side of the border where up to two million Syrian refugees can be resettled. | Turkey launched the offensive in northern Syria a week ago to push back from its border members of a Syrian Kurdish militia called the People's Protection Units (YPG) and create a 32km (20-mile) deep "safe zone" along the Syrian side of the border where up to two million Syrian refugees can be resettled. |
The YPG dominates an alliance of Kurdish and Arab militias called the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which has driven the Islamic State (IS) group out of a quarter of Syria over the past four years with the help of air strikes by a US-led multinational coalition. | The YPG dominates an alliance of Kurdish and Arab militias called the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which has driven the Islamic State (IS) group out of a quarter of Syria over the past four years with the help of air strikes by a US-led multinational coalition. |
On Sunday, after US troops began withdrawing from the region and Turkish-led forces made gains, the Kurds agreed a deal with the Syrian government for the Syrian army to be deployed on the border to help repel the Turkish assault. | On Sunday, after US troops began withdrawing from the region and Turkish-led forces made gains, the Kurds agreed a deal with the Syrian government for the Syrian army to be deployed on the border to help repel the Turkish assault. |
What did Mr Erdogan say? | What did Mr Erdogan say? |
In remarks on Wednesday, Mr Erdogan called on "terror organisations" in northern Syria to lay down their arms in order to end Turkey's military operation. | In remarks on Wednesday, Mr Erdogan called on "terror organisations" in northern Syria to lay down their arms in order to end Turkey's military operation. |
"Our offer is that immediately tonight all terrorists should drop their weapons, equipment and everything, destroying their traps and leaving the safe zone we have designated," he told a meeting of his Justice and Development Party's (AKP) parliamentary group. | "Our offer is that immediately tonight all terrorists should drop their weapons, equipment and everything, destroying their traps and leaving the safe zone we have designated," he told a meeting of his Justice and Development Party's (AKP) parliamentary group. |
He also rejected calls, apparently from foreign leaders, to enter mediation with the group. | He also rejected calls, apparently from foreign leaders, to enter mediation with the group. |
The Turkish government insists the YPG is an extension of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has fought for Kurdish autonomy in Turkey since 1984 and is designated as a terrorist group by the US and EU. | The Turkish government insists the YPG is an extension of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has fought for Kurdish autonomy in Turkey since 1984 and is designated as a terrorist group by the US and EU. |
Mr Erdogan has maintained the offensive will only end when his planned "safe zone" is cleared of Turkish forces. | Mr Erdogan has maintained the offensive will only end when his planned "safe zone" is cleared of Turkish forces. |
Critics of the Trump administration say the withdrawal of US troops from the region gave Turkey a "green light" for the offensive. | Critics of the Trump administration say the withdrawal of US troops from the region gave Turkey a "green light" for the offensive. |
The US has repeatedly denied this, and on Monday Washington announced sanctions on Turkish ministries and senior government officials. | The US has repeatedly denied this, and on Monday Washington announced sanctions on Turkish ministries and senior government officials. |
Mr Pence and Mr Pompeo are due to travel to the Turkish capital, Ankara, on Thursday. | Mr Pence and Mr Pompeo are due to travel to the Turkish capital, Ankara, on Thursday. |
On Monday, Mr Pence warned that the US sanctions against Turkey would be escalated "unless and until Turkey embraces an immediate ceasefire" and negotiated a long-term settlement on the border. | On Monday, Mr Pence warned that the US sanctions against Turkey would be escalated "unless and until Turkey embraces an immediate ceasefire" and negotiated a long-term settlement on the border. |
US President Donald Trump has faced mounting pressure to take action against Turkey - a key Nato partner - including from Republicans usually loyal to his administration. | US President Donald Trump has faced mounting pressure to take action against Turkey - a key Nato partner - including from Republicans usually loyal to his administration. |
But on Tuesday Mr Erdogan maintained Turkey "will never declare a ceasefire" despite US calls. | But on Tuesday Mr Erdogan maintained Turkey "will never declare a ceasefire" despite US calls. |
"They are pressuring us to stop the operation. They are announcing sanctions. Our goal is clear. We are not worried about any sanctions," the president added. | "They are pressuring us to stop the operation. They are announcing sanctions. Our goal is clear. We are not worried about any sanctions," the president added. |
Russian President Vladimir Putin has also discussed the situation with Mr Erdogan in a phone call, a Kremlin spokesman said on Wednesday. Mr Erdogan had accepted an invitation to visit Russia for a working visit this month, the spokesman added. | Russian President Vladimir Putin has also discussed the situation with Mr Erdogan in a phone call, a Kremlin spokesman said on Wednesday. Mr Erdogan had accepted an invitation to visit Russia for a working visit this month, the spokesman added. |
Russia has vowed it will not allow clashes between Turkish and Syrian forces. | Russia has vowed it will not allow clashes between Turkish and Syrian forces. |
What's the latest on the ground? | What's the latest on the ground? |
Dozens of civilians have reportedly been killed in Turkey's operation so far and at least 160,000 have fled the area, according to the UN. | Dozens of civilians have reportedly been killed in Turkey's operation so far and at least 160,000 have fled the area, according to the UN. |
The medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) said it had "taken the difficult decision to suspend the majority of its activities and evacuate all its international staff from north-east Syria". | The medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) said it had "taken the difficult decision to suspend the majority of its activities and evacuate all its international staff from north-east Syria". |
On Tuesday, Syrian government forces entered the strategic town of Manbij, inside the area where Turkey wants to create its "safe zone". | On Tuesday, Syrian government forces entered the strategic town of Manbij, inside the area where Turkey wants to create its "safe zone". |
Meanwhile, Turkish troops and pro-Turkish, anti-government fighters have also been gathering near Manbij. | Meanwhile, Turkish troops and pro-Turkish, anti-government fighters have also been gathering near Manbij. |
Over the past two years, hundreds of US troops have visibly patrolled the strategic town, but they left earlier this week. | Over the past two years, hundreds of US troops have visibly patrolled the strategic town, but they left earlier this week. |
On Tuesday, Russia - a key ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad - said its forces were patrolling along the "line of contact" between Syrian and Turkish forces. | On Tuesday, Russia - a key ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad - said its forces were patrolling along the "line of contact" between Syrian and Turkish forces. |
For now, Syrian forces have not been deployed between Tal Abyad and Ras al-Ain, where Turkey has focused its efforts. | For now, Syrian forces have not been deployed between Tal Abyad and Ras al-Ain, where Turkey has focused its efforts. |
How did we get here? | How did we get here? |
Kurdish-led forces have been a key ally of the US in the fight against the IS in Syria. | Kurdish-led forces have been a key ally of the US in the fight against the IS in Syria. |
They described the US withdrawal, which preceded Turkish action, as a "stab in the back". | They described the US withdrawal, which preceded Turkish action, as a "stab in the back". |
There are fears the destabilisation could lead to a resurgence of IS, as thousands of former fighters and their relatives are being detained in northern Syria. | There are fears the destabilisation could lead to a resurgence of IS, as thousands of former fighters and their relatives are being detained in northern Syria. |
Hundreds of IS family members are said to have already escaped from one camp. | Hundreds of IS family members are said to have already escaped from one camp. |
Analysts say that apart from fighting IS, the Kurds were fundamental to the US in limiting the influence of rivals Russia and Iran. | Analysts say that apart from fighting IS, the Kurds were fundamental to the US in limiting the influence of rivals Russia and Iran. |