Turkey's actions in the Syrian territories aimed at creating a security zone is an act of aggression, the Syrian MFA said in a statement issued on Monday, the contents of which were quoted by SANA news agency.
"The Turkish regime's actions to create a so-called 'security zone' in Syria is a shameful act of aggression and part of a policy of ethnic and geographic cleansing carried out in the occupied Syrian territories by the government of [Turkish President] Recep Tayyip Erdogan, which is a war crime and a crime against humanity," the statement reads.
Syria's sovereignty will not become a bargaining chip between Turkey and the West. "Syria assures that its sovereignty, independence, security and territorial integrity will not become an object of blackmail and bargaining by the extremist Turkish regime in collusion with its allies in Washington and some Western countries seeking political gain at the expense of the Syrian people," the Syrian MFA said.
Turkey has conducted three military operations in northern Syria since 2017 - Euphrates Shield, Olive Branch and Peace Spring. As a result, a security buffer zone was created between the cities of Azaz and Jarabulus north of Aleppo, Afrin was occupied, and the border areas east of the Euphrates River were taken under control. Damascus views the armed Turkish presence as an illegal occupation.
On May 23, Erdogan announced preparations for a new military operation in northern Syria to expand the 30-kilometer security zone created in October 2019 after Operation Peace Spring. According to the Turkish media, the operation may begin in the near future, it is planned to involve about 50,000 Turkish troops and fighters of the Syrian armed opposition, supported by Ankara.
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Based on materials from TASS