ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Turkey’s foreign minister on Wednesday said that Ankara will not refrain from “destroying” the sources of income of the Kurdish forces in northeast Syria (Rojava), adding that sanctions cannot change his country's position regarding the operations.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told journalists at the foreign ministry in Ankara that his country's focus is “unwavering” when it comes to targeting what he referred to as “terrorist organizations,” adding that "in that region, we do not hesitate to destroy the organizational infrastructure and income sources that keep the groups alive."
Fidan’s comments come a day after the Turkish parliament approved the extension of the mandate allowing the country’s troops to carry out military operations inside Syria and Iraq for another two years.
Turkish troops have been present in the Kurdistan Region for decades, carrying out attacks against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in bordering areas. They have invaded several cities in northern Syria, including Kurdish ones, in recent years. Ankara has set up tens of military bases in both countries.
The Turkish foreign minister said that Turkey has a clear message regarding its cross-border operations in Syria and Iraq, stressing that actions of what Ankara dubs "terrorist" groups within Turkish territory will be addressed directly.
Ankara has intensified its attacks on alleged positions of the PKK in the Kurdistan Region and Kurdish forces in northeast Syria (Rojava) over the past two weeks after the PKK carried out an attack against the country’s interior ministry in the capital Ankara.
The PKK is an armed group that for decades has fought for the rights of Kurds in Turkey. It is designated as a terrorist organization by Ankara. Turkey claims that the People’s Protection Units (YPG), the backbone of the US-allied Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), is the Syrian offshoot of the PKK.
Earlier this month, the Pentagon confirmed that the US troops in Rojava’s Hasaka shot down a Turkish drone after deeming it a potential threat to American forces in the city. Turkey later confirmed one of its drones was shut down due to “different technical evaluations in the deconfliction mechanism with third parties".
"We tell the Americans that we have no problem with you in Syrian territory. However, we will not refrain from targeting the organization nestled there. These are the instructions our president gave to our armed forces, security organizations, and intelligence," Fidan said.
Turkey's top-diplomat stressed that sanctions cannot alter Turkey's "red lines" regarding required action in the region.
The foreign minister noted that the US’ “only excuse” to support the Kurdish forces in Syria was combating the Islamic State (ISIS), adding that there will be no place for them there the day Washington withdraws from Syria.
Turkey has relentlessly bombarded Kurdish sites in northeast Syria since October 5, striking military targets and civilian infrastructure, including power stations, oil fields, and other basic services in Rojava.
Erdogan said only members of PKK and YPG were targeted in what he called the “first phase” of Turkey's military operation.
“The first phase of our operation, in which we targeted only members of the terrorist organization, facilities used by terrorists, sources of income and capabilities of terrorism, was completed successfully,” he was cited by Al-Monitor as saying.
Kurdish officials have disputed Erdogan’s claim, saying Ankara targets civilian facilities as well.
