Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan revealed on Saturday that he had discussed with Russian President Vladimir Putin elections that are set for regions held by the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northern Syria.
Speaking to reporters during his return from visits to Spain and Italy, he said: “There are no elections there... a game is being played to give legitimacy to a terrorist organization.” He was referring to the Kurdistan Workers' Party and the SDF and its armed wing, the People’s Protection Units (YPG).
“Our previous operations have demonstrated our skill in breaking games,” added Erdogan.
“There is no doubt that the Syrian administration in Damascus will not grant them permission to hold the elections or take steps in that direction,” he went on say.
He added that Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan had discussed this issue with Putin and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.
“We hope the separatist terrorist PKK and other groups won’t be able to operate freely in Syria,” stressed Erdogan.
Moreover, he warned that Türkiye was ready to “amass all of its forces when needed” should the elections be held.
“We will not allow the terrorists to claim a foothold right under our nose. We will not hesitate to do what is necessary about this,” he vowed.
The Kurdish autonomous authorities in northeastern Syria will hold elections on August 8. They were postponed from June 11 at the request of some parties.
Ankara has repeatedly threatened to carry out a new military operation in northern Syria to prevent the elections from being held. It has also repeatedly demanded that the poll be cancelled.
The United States, which backs the SDF, has said conditions are not right to hold free and transparent elections.
In an address to the Turkish people on the occasion of Eid al-Adha, Erdogan said Türkiye was determined to fight terrorism and the PKK, which has undermined the security of the country for over 40 years.
“We will not allow it to become a source of threat to the southern borders,” he declared.
Also on Saturday, the Turkish Defense Ministry announced that nine members of the YPG were “eliminated” in northern and northeastern Syria.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, meanwhile, revealed that Turkish forces were establishing a new “defensive line” stretching from Turkish-Russian de-escalation zones in the eastern Idlib countryside and spanning some 20 towns and villages.
The rights monitor said the Turkish forces were digging trenches and setting up barricades to protect main roads and supply routes in anticipation of any military escalation.
