Turkey would not accept a “terror corridor” on its southern border, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said early Friday, referring to terrorist groups such as Daesh and the YPG/PKK.
“No one expects us to consent to a terror corridor on our southern border,” Erdoğan said while speaking to the media in Ankara ahead of his official trip to China to attend the G20 summit.
“I will never allow a terror corridor in our south and in Syria's north, I want everyone to know this,” he added.
Rocket attacks on the Turkish province of Kilis from Daesh-held territory in northern Syria have killed tens of victims since January.
“We cannot pretend not to have heard continuous rocket attacks into our cities from Jarabulus, north Syria,” Erdoğan said.
Turkey launched Operation Euphrates Shield on Aug. 24, aimed at improving security, supporting coalition forces and eliminating the terror threat along its border by using Free Syrian Army fighters backed by Turkish armor, artillery, and jets.
Erdoğan said the reason of the operation is to secure the border region by eliminating terror organizations.
He also said the fight against terrorism and security would be the main topics during the G20 summit, adding that he would express to its allies Turkey's expectations regarding terror groups such as FETO, DHKP-C, PKK, PYD, YPG, and Daesh.
Erdoğan is expected to hold meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Barack Obama during the summit.
