Turkey should stay in Syria despite threats: BBP head

By Emin Avundukluoglu

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey should continue its struggle in Syria despite threats in the region, a Turkish opposition party leader said Tuesday.

"Turkey should not buckle under the threats and should continue its struggle [in Syria]," Grand Unity Party (BBP) leader Mustafa Destici told journalists at the parliament.

"If we leave Idlib today, we are obliged to live Afrin tomorrow. We are obliged to leave Tell Abyad the day after tomorrow. Jarabulus and Ras al-Ayn another day," Destici said, reiterating that Turkey should continue its existence in the region until all conflicts end.

Destici's remarks came after Assad regime attacks Monday’s in Idlib, Syria, near the area Turkey has carried out anti-terrorism operations.

The attacjs martyred seven Turkish soldiers and one civilian contractor working with the Turkish military. Thirteen others were injured but are in good condition, according to Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar.

"Neither Russia nor any other power can call Turkey to account for its existence in the region. Turkey is in Syria with reasonable grounds," Destici said as he reminded the world of the YPG/PKK terror group's existence in the northern Syria.

After the deadly attack, Turkey struck more than 50 targets in retaliation and killed 76 Syrian soldiers, according to Akar.

Idlib has been a stronghold of opposition and anti-government armed groups since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011.

It is currently home to 4 million civilians, including hundreds of thousands displaced in recent years by regime forces from across the war-weary country.

Turkey and Russia agreed in September 2018 to turn Idlib into a de-escalation zone where acts of aggression are expressly prohibited. The Syrian regime and its allies, however, have consistently broken the terms of the cease-fire, launching frequent attacks inside the zone and killing at least 1,300 civilians since the agreement.