Erdogan: The end of the PKK in Syria is approaching

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned against any division of Syria, stressing his country’s readiness to intervene.

He pointed out that a new phase has begun in our region.

Erdogan continued, “The circle is closing in on the Kurdistan Workers’ Party and its followers in Syria,” saying that the end of the Kurdish militants in Syria is approaching, and that there is no room for terrorism in the future of Syria after the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar al Assad last month.

Erdogan threatened after a cabinet meeting in Ankara to launch a new cross-border operation into Syria against Kurdish militias if Türkiye felt threatened.

“God willing, we have the ability to do this… Everyone should make their calculations accordingly,” he said.

Earlier on Monday, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said the elimination of the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) in Syria was imminent.

Fidan added that Ankara wouldn’t agree to any policy that would allow the YPG to maintain its presence in Syria.

“We’re in a position to not only monitor, but crush any kind of conspiracies in the region,” Fidan said at a joint press conference with his Jordanian counterpart, Ayman Safadi.

Fidan stressed that eliminating PKK fighters in Syria is a matter of time, saying, “The situation in Syria has changed… We believe that eliminating the PKK/YPG is only a matter of time”.

Fidan’s statements come as clashes are taking place in northern Syria between armed factions supported by Türkiye and Syrian Kurdish forces, including the Kurdish People’s Protection Units, which Ankara considers an extension of the PKK, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, and therefore classifies as terrorist.