Turkish Foreign Minister does not rule out military action against Kurdish forces in Syria

Ankara expects Kurdish forces to agree to negotiate with the authorities in Damascus, otherwise the Turkish Armed Forces may launch a military operation in Syria. This was stated by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in an interview with French media, RIA Novosti reports.

Speaking about a possible operation by the Turkish Armed Forces against the Kurdish units, Fidan responded that the "artificially created" YPG units (Kurdish People's Protection Units - ed.) must be immediately disbanded, and that in the current new conditions in Syria, it is necessary to ensure the territorial integrity of the country.

According to him, if the new Syrian authorities fail to accomplish this task, Ankara will take independent steps "to protect its security." "We will do what is necessary," Fidan replied when asked about the cross-border operation.

After the armed opposition came to power in Damascus, the so-called "Syrian National Army" formations, supported by Turkey, resumed military operations against Kurdish forces in the Manbij region in northeastern Syria.

The Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces, supported by US forces in northeastern Syria, declared the establishment of an autonomous administration in the provinces of Aleppo, Al-Hasakah, Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor under their control after the start of the Syrian crisis in 2011.

The Kurdish groups did not engage in military operations with Syrian government forces during the presidency of former President Bashar Assad and have maintained their military potential with the support of the armed forces of the international coalition (led by the US) present in northeastern Syria.