A Turkish military vehicle patrols east of the Euphrates near the Turkish-Syrian border, November 5, 2019. /VCG Photo
Russia said on Tuesday it was bewildered by a Turkish pledge to conduct a new military operation in northern Syria if the area was not cleared of Kurdish militants, warning such a move would damage efforts to stabilize the region.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu was cited on Monday as saying his country would launch a new military operation in northeast Syria if the area was not cleared of Kurdish YPG militia, viewed as terrorists by Ankara but at the forefront of the fight against ISIL with U.S. support.
Cavusoglu was quoted by the Anadolu news agency as saying that Russia and the United States had not done what was required under agreements that halted a Turkish offensive last month and called on them to do what was necessary.
Russia's Defense Ministry said on Tuesday it was bewildered by Cavusoglu's statement since Moscow had carried out in full its obligations under a deal struck between President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Turkish and Russian troops are seen after they completed the eighth round of joint ground patrols in northern Syria, November 18, 2019. /VCG Photo
"Thanks to a range of measures implemented by the Russian Federation, it was possible to significantly stabilize the situation," Major General Igor Konashenkov, a spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry, said in a statement.
"The head of the Turkish Foreign Ministry's call for military action can only escalate the situation in northern Syria rather than sort things out in the way set out in a joint memorandum signed by the presidents of Russia and Turkey," Konashenkov added.
Turkey: U.S., Russia have 'not fulfilled' Syria deals
"Have they (the U.S. and Russia) completely fulfilled what is required of the agreements? No they have not, but they should do so," Cavusoglu said on Monday, threatening to resume a Turkish offensive.
Last month Turkey began a cross-border operation against the YPG militia. Following Erdogan's meetings with Putin in Russia and U.S. Vice President Mike Pence in Ankara later in October, there were two respective agreements for the YPG's withdrawal from northern Syria.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin shake hands during a joint news conference following their meeting in Sochi, Russia, October 22, 2019. /VCG Photo
"We have done what is required as part of the agreement but when there has been harassment (from the YPG), we have done what is necessary," the Turkish foreign minister told a parliamentary committee.
"If we don't get the desired outcome, we will do what is required as we have done before," Cavusoglu added. "There is no other option. We must clear the terror threat next door to us."
Turkish and Russian troops have held eight rounds of joint patrols in northern Syria under their deal.
Pentagon chief Mark Esper said last week that the U.S. would maintain around 600 troops in Syria.
(With input from Reuters, AFP)