Turkey-backed opposition forces may extend their zone of control in northern Syria by pushing south and were now focussed on heading towards the Daesh-held town of Al-Bab, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said today.
Speaking at a news conference before departing for New York where he is due to address the United Nations General Assembly, Erdogan said Turkey’s “safety zone” in the region could eventually span an area of 5,000 square kilometres.
Last month, Turkey launched its operation in northern Syria. Dubbed “Euphrates Shield”, it aims to clear Daesh from the Turkish-Syrian border and stop the advance of Syrian Kurdish fighters. So far, Turkey has secured a narrow strip of land along its border.
“As part of the Euphrates Shield operation, an area of 900 square kilometres has been cleared of terror so far. This area is pushing south,” Erdogan said.
“We may extend this area to 5,000 square kilometres as part of a safe zone.”
Turkey has long argued for the need for a “safe zone” or a “no-fly zone” along its Syrian border, with the aim of clearing out Daesh and Kurdish fighters and of stemming a wave of immigration that has caused tension in Europe.
But Western allies have so far balked at the idea, saying it would require a significant ground force and planes to patrol, marking a major commitment in such a crowded battlefield.
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