Turkey says France sending troops to Syria would be 'invasion'

Turkish Defence Minister Nurettin Canikl warns Paris against "calamitous step" after French President Emmanuel Macron's meeting with a delegation of SDF terrorist group.

"If France takes any steps regarding its military presence in northern Syria, this would be an illegitimate step," says Turkish Defence Minister Nurettin Canikli.
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"If France takes any steps regarding its military presence in northern Syria, this would be an illegitimate step," says Turkish Defence Minister Nurettin Canikli.

Turkey on Saturday warned France against increasing its military presence in Syria, saying it would be an "invasion", as tensions between Paris and Ankara remained high.

Temperatures were raised after French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday met a delegation of the YPG-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) militant group.

The delegates said afterwards that France was planning to send new troops to Manbij — a northern Syrian town held by the US-backed militant group — a claim Paris denied.

"If France takes any steps regarding its military presence in northern Syria, this would be an illegitimate step that would go against international law and in fact, it would be an invasion," Turkish Defence Minister Nurettin Canikli said.

"Especially if they (France) intend to support terror group elements or give direct or indirect protection with armed forces, this would be a really calamitous step," he added during a visit to Turley's northeastern province of Giresun.

Manbij operation

Turkey sent troops into Syria and launched Operation Olive Branch against the YPG/PKK terror outfits in its Afrin enclave on January 20 and drove out the militants from the city on March 18.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly warned that Turkey could extend the military campaign to Manbij, which is east of Afrin.

But Macron's office on Friday said that Paris was not planning any new military operation on the ground in northern Syria outside the international coalition against Daesh group.

Diverging stances on militant groups

Ankara views the YPG as a "terrorist" offshoot of the outlawed PKK, which has waged an over three-decade insurgency in Turkey, resulting in the killing of over 40,000 people.

But the United States, as well as France, have worked closely with the YPG militants in the fight against Daesh in Syria, much to Ankara's anger.

Turkey says the YPG and SDF are actually the Syrian branches of the PKK, which is recognised by Turkey, France, and the EU as a terrorist group. 

Earlier on Friday, Erdogan criticised France's "completely wrong approach" and rejected Macron's offer of establishing a dialogue between Ankara and the SDF militant group.

"We have no need for mediation," Erdogan said. 

"You can sit down at the table with terror organisations but Turkey will continue its fight against terror."

'Save region from bloody gangs'

On Saturday, Erdogan insisted during a speech in Istanbul that Turkey's action "was not an invasion, but to save the region from bloody gangs".

He told France to look back at its own history, and made reference to Algeria and the 2011 Libya invasions which Erdogan described using the term "occupation".

"How can you stand up and give us a lesson on civilisation? First look at your own history," he said.

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