Erdogan: ‘Operation Olive Branch’ to continue

MENA

Published: 2018-03-23 16:21

Last Updated: 2024-03-28 08:15


Map of Syria showing Afrin, Manbij and Idlib
Map of Syria showing Afrin, Manbij and Idlib

Turkish President Recep Erdogan said on Friday that the Turkish military assault “will not stop” even after the Syrian city of Afrin has been taken, but will continue to Manbij and Idlib.

“We will not take a step back in Syria and this will not end in Afrin. We have Manbij and Idlib next,” Erdogan said at a rally in Istanbul.

Erdogan added that more than 3700 militants had been “neutralized” since the start of military “Operation Olive Branch”, referring to the militants who had been killed, injured, or kidnapped.

Turkey started a military assault against the northern city of Afrin in January, saying it only aims to secure their borders from terrorist Kurdish forces, claiming the operation is not against Kurds, but against terrorism.