‘Soon we will act to neutralize terrorist groups in Syria’: Erdogan

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday addressed lawmakers of his Justice and Development (AK) Party at the Turkish parliament.

Erdogan said Turkey is determined to eliminate “terror corridor” in the north of Syria, adding that Turkey made no distinction between terrorist groups.

“For Turkey, there is no difference between PKK, YPG, PYD or Daesh,” he said.

He said Turkey’s preparations to eradicate Daesh in Syria’s north “together with other terrorist organizations along the way”.

“Very soon we will act to neutralize terrorist groups in Syria. And we will take out other terror groups that might try to prevent us from doing this,” he said.

Erdogan said Turkey has always respected his allies, adding that his country expected the same attitude from its allies.

“Syria is rapidly being freed of the Deash menace thanks to heroic efforts of our soldiers. But we cannot accept remarks by [US National Security Adviser John] Bolton,” Erdogan said.

On Sunday, Bolton had said the U.S. will not withdraw troops from northeastern Syria until Turkish government guarantees fight against Daesh and that it won’t attack “Kurdish fighters,” referring to YPG/PKK terrorist group.