US ambassador to UN says Washington opposes any Turkish military action in Syria
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – On a visit to the Turkish town of Hatay near the Syrian border, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations reiterated U.S. opposition to opposition to any Turkish military action in Syria.
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.
“We have engaged with the Turkish government,” Linda Thomas Greenfield said. “We have indicated our opposition to any decision to take military action on the Syrian side of the border. We think that nothing should be done to break the ceasefire lines that have already been established.”
Any such action, she said, would not only increase suffering but also the number of displaced people, including some who might try to cross the border into Turkey.
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.