Turkish official confirms his country’s determination to eliminate security threats in North Syria

The permanent representative of Turkey to the UN, Sedat Onal, said in a speech to the Security Council that “his country is determined to end the security threats it faces in north Syria.”

Onal stressed that “the Syrian Democratic Forces not just threaten stability and regional safety in Syria, but also the national security interests of Turkey.”

Onal pointed out that “the Syrian Democratic Forces have carried out, since the beginning of this year, 67 attacks from Tal Rifaat and Manbij against Turkey and the areas liberated from the control of the Assad regime forces.”

Onal stated that “his country is determined to take all necessary steps to eliminate the threat posed by the Syrian Democratic Forces in order to protect its citizens and borders.”

Onal made it clear that ” eliminating SDF’s threat will be done in accordance with Turkey’s obligations under international law and international humanitarian law.”

Onal pointed out that “the last round of the Astana talks on Syria stressed the need to preserve Syria’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, and also stressed the need to accelerate the committee’s work and hold a new round as soon as possible.”

The work of the Constitutional Committee was halted a year ago due to obstruction by Russia and the Assad regime.