Mr.Tolga Kaya, Consul General of Turkey in Mumbai

Mumbai: “The goal of Operation Peace Spring, launched on 9 October 2019 in the face of multi-dimensional terror threats emanating from Syria against our national security, is to ensure the security of our borders, to neutralize terrorists in the region and to save the Syrian people from the oppression of terrorists” Says Mr. Tolga Kaya Consul General of Turkey in Mumbai.

In a press statement Tolga Kaya says “Turkey does not target Kurds, Arabs or any other group in Syria. This is a counter-terror operation”.

“The Operation Peace Spring is being successfully conducted on the basis of international law, in accordance with our right of self-defense under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter and UN Security Council resolutions on the fight against terrorism”. He added

PYD/YPG is the Syrian offshoot of PKK, which is recognized as a terrorist organization also by the EU and NATO.

During the planning and execution phases of the operation, only PYD/YPG elements and their hideouts, shelters, emplacements, weapons, vehicles and equipment are being targeted.

All necessary measures are taken to prevent any harm to civilians and any damage to civilian infrastructure.

Turkey has no plans whatsoever to modify the demographic structure in the operation area.

Preservation of the territorial integrity and political unity of its neighbor, Syria, is essential for Turkey.

Turkey, hosting the largest refugee population in the world, is determined to continue its fight against all terrorist organizations, DEASH and PYD/YPG in particular, that threaten its national security and the Syrian people in the future.