The National Security Council of Turkey (MGK) convened on Thursday in a meeting chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Turkey has not targeted the territorial integrity and sovereignty rights of its neighbouring countries, but its incursions would continue due to national security threats, the MGK announced.
They also spoke about Turkey’s ongoing attacks on the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK), Democratic Union Party (PYD), and People’s Defence Unit (YPG) and that “additional measures” that were also discussed, according to the MGK.
The MGK statement suggests that the attacks on Iraqi Kurdistan will continue and that a new attack on Rojava will be forthcoming.
Erdoğan had given signals on Monday of a new Turkish incursion into north Syria after the council of ministers meeting.
Following Erdoğan’s statement, the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) released a statement yesterday.
While Erdoğan maintains Turkey’s activities in north and east Syria are for the country’s national security and the return of Syrian refugees, according to the SDC, the incursion has destroyed the social and demographic structure of Syria, and poses a danger for regional and international peace.
Turkey’s efforts to settle Syrians in areas that are not theirs after the displacement of the original inhabitants of the north aims at bringing about demographic change against the people of Kurdish ethnicity, the SDC added.
Turkey’s military operations thwart the fight against terrorism in the region, the SDC said.
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) aims to turn the occupied areas into a safe haven for jihadist organisations, according to the SDC.
Turkish-backed militias commit the most terrible violations against the indigenous population, the SDC added.
“We reject and condemn any possible military action of Turkey,” concluded the SDC, “the countries participating in the Global Coalition against ISIS must assume a primary responsibility as they have the potential to prevent the Turkish intervention.”