Turkey is preparing for a ground military operation in Syria

Turkey is preparing to conduct a ground military operation in Syria, in addition to asking the new Syrian government to take necessary measures against terrorist groups, Türkiye Gazetesi reports.

It is noted that Turkey has put its troops on the border in readiness in order to completely eliminate the armed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK/YPG) from Syria.

"Ankara <...> is ready for all scenarios to eliminate the PKK terrorist organization in both Iraq and Syria," the publication quoted a source in the country's Defense Ministry as saying.

At the same time, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and National Defense Minister Yaşar Güler, as well as other senior officials, stressed that all necessary measures had been taken for the military operation.

Ankara's plan consists of two phases. In the first phase, foreign PKK members in Syria would leave the country unconditionally. In the second phase, Syrian YPG commanders would lay down their arms or join the new system.

The Syrian National Army (SNA) has also deployed heavy weapons in the area of Operation Peace Spring. They are reinforcing strategic points in the Aleppo and Raqqa provinces. The commander of Ras al-Ain said that all troops on the front lines are on full alert.

Turkey has strongly criticized the US support for the PKK/YPG under the pretext of fighting ISIS. Ankara has said it may place the Syrian government under the responsibility of controlling ISIS members. At the same time, the fact that foreign ISIS fighters, including those from Europe, are not being accepted by their own countries remains a problem.