Turkey rejects faits accomplis in Syria – Turkish Defense Minister
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Turkish Minister of Defense, Yaşar Güler, stated on Saturday that faits accomplis in Syria would not be tolerated and Turkey may consider withdrawing its forces from Syria if the security of its border is guaranteed.
According to Turkiye Newspaper, Güler told reporters at the EFES-2024 exercise that “We may consider withdrawal once our border security is ensured.”
“From the beginning, we have emphasized that the so-called election activities are unacceptable in terms of Syria’s territorial integrity and will have negative impacts on maintaining peace and tranquility in the region,” Güler added.
The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) had announced the launch of the municipal elections in its areas in north and northeast Syria on June 11 and called on international organizations to participate in monitoring the elections.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated on May 30 that AANES’ upcoming municipal elections threaten Turkey’s “national security.”
“Acceptance of such a situation is out of the question. I reiterate that we will not allow any fait accompli that goes against our national security and the territorial integrity of our neighbors,” Güler pointed out.
Under the pretext of protecting its national security, Turkey, along with its affiliated armed opposition factions, who later became known as the Syrian National Army (SNA), has carried out three cross-border military operations in northern Syria since 2016.
The first operation dubbed, Euphrates Shield, resulted in the occupation of the cities of Azaz, al-Bab, and Jarablus in the north of Aleppo.
In its second operation, Olive Branch, Turkey occupied the Kurdish-majority Afrin Region in the northwest of Aleppo in 2018.
In its third operation, Peace Spring, Turkey occupied the border strip stretching between the cities of Tel Abyad and Sere Kaniye (Ras al-Ain) in northeast Syria in 2019.
These operations resulted in large-scale displacement and violations and abuses of human rights and international law, according to human rights reports.