Emin Avundukluoglu
15 October 2019•Update: 15 October 2019
ANKARA
Turkey's ongoing operation in northern Syria should continue until all region is cleared of terrorists, Turkish opposition Grand Unity Party (BBP) leader said on Tuesday.
"The operation [Operation Peace Spring] should not end until all region is cleared of terrorists," Mustafa Destici told reporters at the parliament and added that the operation would be unfinished otherwise.
He said that his party expected the operation to continue "until all goals are achieved".
Reminding the U.S. and EU's calls on Turkey to end the operation, Destici said: "We should walk the extra mile and complete the operation".
"The most important objective of the operation is to resettle 2.2 million Syrians in the planned safe zone. The most important issue for EU is also refugees. At least they say so. So they should back this operation, why are they against it? Their aim is clear. They want a weak, and powerless Turkey," he said.
Turkey on Oct. 9 launched Operation Peace Spring to eliminate terrorists from northern Syria in order to secure Turkey’s borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees and ensure Syria’s territorial integrity.
Ankara wants to clear northern Syria east of the Euphrates River of the terrorist PKK and its Syrian offshoot, the PYD/YPG.
In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union -- has been responsible for deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.
