US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had a telephone conversation with his Turkish counterpart Hulusi Akar during which he expressed concern over the escalation in northern Syria and stressed that the Pentagon strongly opposes a new Turkish military operation in that country. The Pentagon press office said in a statement released Wednesday.
"He also expressed concern about escalating actions in northern Syria and Turkey, including recent airstrikes, some of which posed a direct threat to the safety of US servicemen who are working with local partners in Syria to defeat IS (the Islamic State terrorist group, banned in Russia - TASS). Secretary Austin called for de-escalation and conveyed that the [US] Department of Defense is strongly against a new Turkish military operation in Syria," it noted.
At the same time, the Pentagon said, Austin "stressed the importance of the US-Turkey strategic relationship," and also expressed condolences for the latest terrorist attacks in Turkey.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated on Monday Ankara's determination to counter the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) banned by Ankara and plans for a ground operation against it in neighboring Iraq and Syria. He also said that Turkey would not ask anyone's permission or report to anyone when it comes to protecting its territory and conducting cross-border operations.
Erdogan had previously announced plans for a ground operation in northern Syria, following the air operation launched on November 20 in northern Iraq and Syria. According to Turkish media reports, Turkish army units stationed in areas bordering Syria have completed preparations for the ground operation and are waiting for the order to start it.
On the night of November 20, Turkey carried out an air operation in northern Iraq and Syria, in which more than 50 planes and 20 drones were used. The strikes were carried out on the PKK's locations. Turkish authorities blamed PKK and Syrian Kurds for the November 13 attack in Istanbul, which killed six people.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
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Based on materials from TASS