Turkey warns of ‘action’ in Syria’s Manbij

ANKARA - Anadolu Agency

Turkey on March 28 again warned it may “take action” in Syria’s Manbij if the region is not cleared of militants.

The warning came in a written statement issued by the National Security Council, chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the capital Ankara.

“It was stated [during the meeting] that terrorists in Manbij should be removed from the region as soon as possible, or Turkey will not abstain from taking initiative,” it said.

The statement said the National Security Council meeting, which lasted for four hours, assessed threats aiming at Turkey’s national security, specifically referring to the Syrian Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and the Fethullahist Terror Organization (FETÖ).

“Besides Syria, it is expected from the Iraqi state to prevent terrorist group actions in various locations in Iraq, especially in Sinjar and the Qandil Mountains,” the statement said.

Turkey on Jan. 20 launched “Operation Olive Branch” to remove YPG militants from Syria’s Afrin district.