Sarp Ozer
21 October 2019•Update: 22 October 2019
ANKARA
Pause in Turkey’s anti-terror operation in northern Syria is not a ceasefire, said the Turkish defense minister on Monday.
"Turkey reserves its right to self-defense against any hostile act and attack," Hulusi Akar told reporters in the capital Ankara.
"40 harassments/assaults have been carried out against our forces since 10 p.m [1900GMT] on Oct.17. One of our soldiers was martyred and seven of them were wounded," Akar said adding the 120-hour pause will end on Tuesday night.
Turkey is working to ensure that the establishment of the safe zone is successful, with respect to the territorial integrity of Syria, Akar said.
"We are committed to fight against Daesh. We are also closely following the completion of the removal of the YPG/PKK from the safe zone, the collection of heavy weapons and the destruction of the fortifications within 120 hours," he added.
"The planned safe zone, as stated by President [Recep Tayyip] Erdogan, will be 32 kilometers [20 miles] deep and 444 kilometers [276 miles] wide from the east of the Euphrates to the border with Iraq. We are discussing some of this with the U.S. and some with Russia," Akar stated.
Akar also reiterated that the target of the Operation Peace Spring is terrorists.
"Only terrorists and their shelters, positions, weapons and vehicles are targeted. We pay attention to civilians/innocent people, the environment, historical, religious, cultural structures, infrastructure facilities, friendly/allied country elements, at the expense of delay of operations," said Akar.
"Not only the security of our country and our nation, but also the security of other religious and ethnic groups such as Kurds, Arabs, Assyrians, Christians, Arameans, Ezidis and Chaldeans is important for us," he added.
Turkey on Oct. 9 launched Operation Peace Spring to eliminate terrorists from northern Syria in order to secure Turkey's borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees and ensure Syria's territorial integrity.
On Oct. 17, Turkey agreed to pause the operation for 120 hours to allow the withdrawal of YPG/PKK terrorists from the planned safe zone.
Ankara wants to clear northern Syria east of the Euphrates River of the terrorist PKK and its Syrian offshoot, the YPG/PKK.
In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union -- has been responsible for deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.
* Writing by Busra Nur Bilgic Cakmak
