‘US leaving Syria shouldn’t give room to terrorists'

By Sarp Ozer and Cuneyt Karadag

MUNICH, Germany (AA) – The vacuum that emerges after the expected withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria should not give room to terrorists, Turkey's defense minister said on Friday.

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Hulusi Akar reiterated that despite using different labels, the terrorist PKK, PYD, and YPG are in fact the same group.

“Clearing the YPG terror organization from Syria is of utmost importance for the security of our borders and people,” Akar said.

Turkey has promised a cross-border operation in Syria against the YPG/PYD, east of the Euphrates River, following on two similar counter-terrorist operations since 2016.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- recognized as a terror group by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of some 40,000 people, including women and children. The PYD/YPG is the group's Syrian branch.

Akar added: “The vacuum that will emerge after the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria should not provide a safe haven for terrorists.”

On the idea of a safe zone to be set up east of the Euphrates, Akar said that only Turkish forces should be present in any such zone.