Erdogan: Attacks on Kurds in Syria are only the beginning

Turkey launched the operation, which is also under way in Iraq, as an initial response to a bombing that took place in Istanbul earlier this month, for which Ankara blames Syrian militants. Kurdish groups deny any responsibility.

Our “determination to secure our entire southern border... with a secure area is stronger today than ever before. As we continue with intact air strikes, we will hit terrorists even from land at the most appropriate time for us”, Erdogan told lawmakers in parliament.

Meanwhile, the commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces led by Kurds in the country's northeast said his group is prepared to back a ground invasion by Turkey.

SDF leader Mazlowam Abdi said his group has been preparing for another such attack since Turkey launched a ground attack in the region in 2019.

We believe we have reached a level where we can prevent any new attacks. At least Turks will not be able to invade more of our areas and there will be a great battle. If Turkey attacks any region, the war will spread to all regions and everyone will be hurt by this”, he said.

Russia today reiterated its stance, calling on Turkey to ban the launch of a full-scale ground offensive against militants in Syria, DW reports.

“We hope that our arguments will be heard in Ankara and that other ways of solving the” problem will be found, Russian senior negotiator Alexander Lavrentyev said after a new round of Syria talks with Turkish and Iranian delegations in Kazakhstan.

Lavrentyev also said that the United States was guilty of plotting a key <x0-> destructive road in northeastern Syria and that resolving the Kurdish issue would be an important factor in stabilising the situation in the region.

The US has become an ally with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), led by Kurdish militia YPG, in the fight against the Islamic State in Syria.