Russia’s envoy to Syria, Alexander Lavrentiev, stated that launching a new military operation by Turkey in Syria is unacceptable.
Lavrentiev’s remarks came during a press conference following the conclusion of the “Astana 22” talks on Syria today, Tuesday, November 12.
He added that Russia has repeatedly affirmed its disapproval of new Turkish operations in Syria, and “we still hope that the Turkish side will refrain from these steps, as they could have negative consequences for Syria itself.”
He indicated that Turkish military operations will not solve the problem; instead, they will only exacerbate it and have a destabilizing effect in the context of the unresolved crisis on the Lebanese-Israeli border and in the Gaza Strip.
Turkey intermittently threatens to launch a new military operation in Syria against the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which controls large areas in northeastern Syria and is classified by Ankara as a “terrorist group.”
Turkey has conducted airstrikes on Syrian territory targeting elements and leaders of the SDF, and it has carried out two ground military operations against them: “Olive Branch” in March 2018, during which it captured the city of Afrin in the Aleppo countryside, and “Peace Spring” east of the Euphrates in October 2019, where it captured the cities of Tal Abyad and Ras al-Ain.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan recently focused on establishing a “security belt” with Syria on two separate occasions.
Erdoğan stated that Turkey will complete the “security belt” along its southern border, referring to the Syrian-Turkish border where the SDF controls parts of it.
He added that Turkey has thwarted attempts to encircle it through operations carried out by the Turkish army and the “safe zones” it has established.
Previously, Erdoğan made statements on November 8, reaffirming his country’s demands for the establishment of a “security belt” 30 to 40 km long along its southern border.
This came during a meeting he had with Turkish journalists while returning from the Hungarian capital, Budapest.
He added, “We will continue the struggle to pursue terrorists in Syria and Iraq and eliminate terrorism at its source,” as he expressed.
He also clarified that he will continue his talks “through phone diplomacy” with his counterpart Donald Trump and will discuss the issue of the US withdrawal from Syria.