Syria reiterates rejection of Turkey’s move to create safe zone

QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – On Saturday, the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates condemned the Turkish attacks on the areas of northern Syria, stressing that they are a blatant violation of international law and Syrian sovereignty.

On May 23, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country would soon launch a new military operation in northern Syria in an effort to link up two areas already under Turkish control in the region.

The final aim is to create a 30-km safe zone along the Turkish border with Syria, Erdogan noted

Syria is following up on the aggressive statements by the Turkish regime on establishing the so-called safe zone in northern Syria and the repeated attacks on the Syrian territory, which claimed the souls of numerous innocent citizens, an official source at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates said.

“The aggressive threats of the Turkish regime pose a blatant violation of the international law and the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Syria. These aggressions contradict the understandings and outputs of the Astana process and constitute a serious threat to peace and security in the region and s undermine internationally sponsored previous understandings on the lines of the de-escalation zones,” the Source added.

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.