Türkiye says length of destroyed tunnels in Syria spans 752 kilometers
'93% of tunnel networks identified in Manbij have been successfully destroyed,' says National Defense Ministry
ANKARA/ISTANBUL
Türkiye's National Defense Ministry said Thursday that the length of tunnels destroyed in the Syrian operational areas has reached 752 kilometers (467 miles).
"With the destruction of five kilometers of tunnels over the past week, 93% of the tunnel networks identified in Manbij have been successfully destroyed. Thus, the total length of tunnels destroyed in the Syrian operational areas has reached 752 kilometers," ministry spokesman Rear Adm. Zeki Akturk said in a weekly news briefing.
On the Syrian government's counterterrorism operations that have been carried out along a line starting from Aleppo and extending to other regions, Akturk said the goal of the operations is "to restore public order and ensure the safety of citizens’ lives."
"In this context, the unconditional compliance of the SDF/YPG with the March 10 and Jan. 18 agreements and the initiation of integration are of critical importance for achieving lasting stability in Syria," Akturk said, expressing Ankara's support for Syria in the fight against terrorist organizations and the strengthening of its defense capacity.
The ministry also called an incident that occurred in the area between Nusaybin and Qamishli "an organized provocation.”
"The perpetrators of the incident have been identified by the relevant state institutions, and necessary actions are being taken. As in every such incident, an administrative investigation into this matter has been immediately initiated,” it added.
The ministry also said that it is closely following developments in Syria, adding that if suitable conditions emerge on the ground, "the necessary actions will be taken in this regard."
"There has been no official request from the Syrian authorities to our country concerning prisons and camps holding ISIS/Daesh terrorists," it said.
On the visit of Turkish Air Force Commander General Ziya Cemal Kadioglu to Qatar, the ministry said a trilateral meeting was held in Qatar with the attendance of the commander of Qatar’s Air Force and the commander of the UK Royal Air Force to discuss the procurement process of Typhoon aircraft.
"During the meeting, pre-procurement training processes and other necessary steps were addressed, and the talks are continuing in a positive manner," it added.
