'Turkey will remain in Syria until Syrian people are free' - Erdogan

Jerusalem Post
Tue, 21 Jul 2020 10:17 UTC

© AP

President Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday that Turkish forces, which have carried out several incursions into northern Syria since 2016, would remain in the country until Syrians can live in freedom and safety."

Nowadays they are holding an election, a so-called election," Erdogan said of a parliamentary election on Sunday in Syria's government-controlled regions, after nearly a decade of civil war.

"Until the Syrian people are free, peaceful and safe, we will remain in this country," he said in a speech in Ankara.

Comment: It seems Erdogan is taking a leaf from the American playbook, claiming to be a protective rather than invading force, because it's highly unlikely that Erdogan has the Syrian people's best interests at heart:

• Russia urges Turkey to "neutralize" terrorist groups in Syria and not try to rename them as moderates
• Turkey's migrant busses, tear gas attacks and fake news stunts at the Greek border
• HUGE cache of weapons made in US, Israel, Turkey & Gulf states abandoned by terrorists in recently liberated area of Syria
• Joanne Moriarty: Turkey proceeds with invasion of Libya, tribes respond