The YPG/PKK members have not withdrawn from northeastern Syria, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told a news conference in Ankara on Thursday.
Noting that the YPG/PKK members continued attacks on the Turkish-backed militants from the Free Syrian Army and 11 members of the Free Syrian Army were killed in an offensive on Thursday morning, Erdoğan said:
"On the one hand, we held talks with the US which resulted in giving the YPG/PKK members 120 hours to leave, but these deals have not been fulfilled. Under our deal with Russia, they were given 150 hours, but the YPG/PKK members have not left these territories in Syria."
Turkey launched Operation Peace Spring on Oct. 9 to clear northeastern Syria east of the Euphrates River of PKK/YPG members and create a safe zone along the border, thereby paving the way for the voluntary return of Syrian refugees.
Ankara has repeatedly expressed its determination to clear northern Syria of both Daesh/ISIS and YPG/PKK groups.
Ankara and Washington reached a deal on Oct. 17 to halt the operation for 120 hours to allow the withdrawal of YPG/PKK members from the planned safe zone.
On Oct. 22, Turkey also reached an agreement with Russia on a 10-point plan to force the YPG/PKK to withdraw from the planned safe zone.
ILKHA