Turkey to continue Syria op if US not keep promises

By Gozde Bayar

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday if the U.S. does not keep its promises after 120 hours, Turkey will resolutely continue its operation in northern Syria.

The safe zone issue will be solved if the U.S. keeps its promises until the end of 120-hour period on Tuesday night, Erdogan told reporters at Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul.

Turkish security forces will not withdraw from northern Syria, he stressed.

Turkey and the U.S. came to an agreement on Thursday to pause Turkey's anti-terror operation in northern Syria.

Turkey agreed to pause its Operation Peace Spring for 120 hours in order to allow the withdrawal of terrorist YPG/PKK forces from the planned safe zone.

In talks on Thursday, Erdogan and U.S. Vice President Mike Pence also agreed on Turkey having 20 miles (32 miles) of safe zone south of the Turkish border in Syria.

- Four Turkish soldiers martyred during Operation Peace Spring

Erdogan said that a total of four Turkish soldiers and 74 Syrian National Army members were martyred during the Operation Peace Spring.

He added that Turkish security forces neutralized nearly 750 YPG/PKK terrorists so far within the scope of the operation.

Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.

Turkey launched Operation Peace Spring on Oct. 9 to eliminate terrorists from northern Syria in order to secure Turkey’s borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees and ensure Syria’s territorial integrity.

Ankara wants to clear northern Syria east of the Euphrates River of the terrorist PKK and its Syrian offshoot, the YPG/PKK.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union -- has been responsible for deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.