Turkey will act "very soon" to neutralize terrorists on Syrian territory, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Tuesday.
Turkey cannot accept recent comments from U.S. President Donald Trump's national security adviser that Ankara must agree to protect Washington's "Kurdish allies" in Syria, Erdoğan said.
Erdoğan, speaking to members of his AK Party in parliament, said John Bolton had made "serious mistake" in calling for a new condition for the U.S. withdrawal from Syria, and that Turkey could never compromise on the issue of PKK/YPG terrorists.
"Claims that Turkey targets Kurds in Syria is dishonorable, ugly, vulgar and defaming," Erdoğan said.
On Sunday, Bolton had said the U.S. will not withdraw troops from northeastern Syria until the Turkish government guarantees it won’t attack “Kurdish fighters,” referring to YPG/PKK terrorist group.
In its 30-year terrorist campaign, the PKK has taken some 40,000 lives. The PKK/YPG is its Syrian branch.
Turkey has said it is planning a counter-terrorist operation into Syria targeting the PKK/YPG, following two successful operations since 2016.
Erdoğan said Turkey is determined to eliminate "terror corridor" in northern Syria, adding that Turkey made no distinction between terrorist groups.
"For Turkey, there is no difference between PKK, YPG, PYD or Daesh," the president said.
"The YPG's fight against Daesh was a huge lie," he added.
He said Turkey's preparations to eradicate Daesh in Syria's north "together with other terrorist organizations are underway."
"Very soon we will act to neutralize terrorist groups in Syria. And we will take out other terror groups that might try to prevent us from doing this," Erdoğan added.
He said Turkey has always respected his allies, adding that his country expects the same attitude from its allies.
