We urge all parties in northern Syria to exercise restraint –UN official
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Commenting on the recent Turkish threats to launch a military operation in northern Syria, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, urged all parties in Syria to exercise restraint.
“It is necessary to respect the truce,” Dujarric said in a press statement to Rudaw.
“We call for restraint on all sides,” he added.
On May 23, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey is preparing for a new military operation in northern Syria to establish a 30-km deep safe zone along its southern border.
President Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday said Turkey would rid northern Syria’s Tal Rifaat and Manbij areas of “terrorists”, confirming the targets of the new advance for the first time. He said the assault would continue into other regions.
Dujarric expressed the UN interest in the ceasfire agreement between the various parties in northern Syria since October 22, 2019.
Following the Turkish “Peace Spring” military operation in October 2019, which resulted in the occupation of the two cities of Tel Abyad, north of Raqqa, and Sere Kaniye (Ras al-Ain), north of Hasakah, Turkey signed two ceasefire agreements, one with Russia and the other with the US.
The agreements stipulate halt of all hostilities there and the withdrawal of the SDF 30 km in depth away from the Turkish border in addition to conducting Turkish-Russian joint patrols in order to monitor the implementation of the agreements.
Syria does not need more military operations by any side, but what it needs is a political solution and more humanitarian assistance…These are the two things that we are working on, Dujarric said on May 24.