Turkey’s Erdogan issues threat of new military operation in Syria

President says forces plan to secure country's southern border with Syria

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan after a Cabinet meeting, in Ankara on Monday. Turkish Presidency / AP

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has issued a new threat to launch a military incursion into Syria to secure Turkey’s southern border.

Mr Erdogan said the military would aim to create a 30-kilometre safe zone along its border with Syria.

“We will soon take new steps regarding the incomplete portions of the project we started on the 30km deep safe zone we established along our southern border,” Mr Erdogan said.

Mr Erdogan did not provide further details but said the operation would begin after Turkey’s military, intelligence and security forces completed their preparations.

Turkish forces have launched three major incursions into northern Syria, taking control of areas along the border to secure it from threats from ISIS and the Kurdish militia, the People’s Protection Units, or YPG.

Turkey views the group as an extension of the banned Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, which is listed as a terror group by Turkey, the US and the EU.

The PKK has waged an insurgency against Turkey since 1984. Tens of thousands of people have died in the conflict.

Turkey is objecting to Sweden and Finland’s membership in the Nato alliance, because of the two countries alleged support for the PKK and other groups that Turkey views as terrorists, and their decision to impose restrictions on military sales to Turkey after Ankara’s incursion into Syria in 2019.