ANKARA: Turkey on Tuesday said it was not optimistic over the implementation of a Syria cease-fire announced by the United States and Russia, threatening to keep up retaliatory artillery strikes against Syrian Kurdish fighters.
“I welcome this truce but I am not very optimistic that it will be respected by all the parties,” Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus told reporters in Ankara.
He also warned that Turkey could carry on shelling targets of the Syrian Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) militia inside Syria, as it did on successive days last week.
Kurtulmus said Turkey will continue “if necessary” to hit back at incoming fire from Syria even after the truce comes into force on Feb. 27. “Turkey will defend its territorial integrity. That is clear,” he added.
Turkey has been alarmed by advances of YPG forces in northern Syria, fearing they are working to create an autonomous Kurdish region on the country’s doorstep.
“I welcome this truce but I am not very optimistic that it will be respected by all the parties,” Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus told reporters in Ankara.
He also warned that Turkey could carry on shelling targets of the Syrian Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) militia inside Syria, as it did on successive days last week.
Kurtulmus said Turkey will continue “if necessary” to hit back at incoming fire from Syria even after the truce comes into force on Feb. 27. “Turkey will defend its territorial integrity. That is clear,” he added.
Turkey has been alarmed by advances of YPG forces in northern Syria, fearing they are working to create an autonomous Kurdish region on the country’s doorstep.
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