Türkiye condemns US presidential order on Syria counter-terror operation

Türkiye has lashed out at the United States for renewing an executive order that makes “baseless” claims against a Turkish counter-terror operation in northern Syria, across the Turkish border.

"The US Executive Order being issued since October 2019 under the title of 'National Emergency with Respect to the Situation in and in Relation to Syria' is identically renewed on October 12, 2022. We condemn this Order which contains baseless allegations and accusations against our country," a foreign ministry statement said on Thursday.

Pointing out that Operation Peace Spring in northern Syria – an area not controlled by the Bashar al Assad regime – is being carried out by Turkish forces to eliminate terrorist threats from Syrian territory and protect border security, the ministry called the allegations in the US order "unfounded".

"Operation Peace Spring, carried out on the basis of the right of self-defence in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter and relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council on the fight against terrorism, has provided an environment of peace and stability in the region," the ministry said.

It further stressed that Türkiye's military operation in northern Syria "ensured the removal of PKK/YPG and DAESH terrorist organisations from the areas of operation and contributed to the preservation of territorial integrity of Syria."

"We expect the US to terminate its engagement with the terrorist organisation PKK/YPG and to fulfil the provisions of the Joint Statement of 17 October 2019," it affirmed.

READ MORE: Turkish intelligence arrests 18 Daesh terrorists in northern Syria

Terrorist threat

On Wednesday, the US announced the renewal of its October 14, 2019 order on the situation in and in relation to Syria. 

The order accused Türkiye's military offensive in northern Syria of "undermining" the campaign against Daesh terrorists and endangering civilians.

On the contrary, however, the operation and similar cross-border operations were launched to protect the border and locals from the threat arising from both Daesh and the YPG/PKK terrorist groups.

In 2013, Türkiye became one of the first countries to declare Daesh a terrorist group.

The country has since been attacked by the terror group multiple times, with over 300 people killed and hundreds more injured in at least 10 suicide bombings, seven bomb attacks, and four armed assaults.

In response, Türkiye launched operations at home and abroad to prevent further attacks, including several counter-terrorist operations such as Euphrates Shield (2016), Olive Branch (2018) and Peace Spring (2019).

In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organisation by Türkiye, the US and EU – has been responsible for the deaths of over 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants. The YPG is the PKK’s Syrian offshoot.

READ: Türkiye neutralises 7 PKK/YPG terrorists within, beyond borders