Erdogan did not rule out cross-border operation in Syria after attack in Istanbul

16 November 2022


Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday signaled that a new cross-border operation in Syria is possible after the November 13 terrorist attack in Istanbul.


"Once the investigation is completed, everything that needs to be done will be done. The whole world should know about our determination to fight terrorism," the Turkish leader said at a press conference following his participation in the G-20 summit in Bali.


Erdogan had previously announced Turkey's plans to launch a new operation in northern Syria against the People's Self-Defense Forces there, which Ankara considers an offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The main goal of the planned actions he called the expansion of the 30-kilometer security zone established in October 2019 in the region after the cross-border operation Peace Spring.


As a result of the explosion on November 13 on Istiklal Street in Istanbul, 6 people were killed and more than 80 were wounded. According to the investigation, PKK and its Syrian branch (People's Self-Defense Forces) were involved in the attack. As part of the investigation into the case, 50 people were detained, including the perpetrator of the attack.

 

 

GSV "Russia - Islamic world"

Photo: anjči/Creative Commons 2.0

Based on materials from TASS