Turkey wants to set up the safe zone with logistical support from allies after US troops pull out of Syria. It says the safe zone should be cleared of the US-backed Syrian Kurdish YPG, which Ankara considers a terrorist group.
Turkey’s plans have stirred tensions with Moscow, which said this week that establishing a safe zone inside Syria would need the consent of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, according to Reuters.
On Friday, Anadolu quoted Akar, who is in Germany for the Munich Defense Summit, as saying it would not be “suitable or sufficient” for countries from an international coalition against Islamic State to secure the safe zone along 440 km of border territory east of the Euphrates river.
“The safe zone isn’t for Turkey alone, but also for the safe return of Syrian refugees who have had to leave their homes back to their country. Only Turkey should be present in the safe zone,” Akara said, according to Anadolu.
Erdogan said on Thursday uncertainty over the withdrawal remained. Earlier this month, Erdogan said that he had not yet seen an acceptable planfrom the United States on the creation of the safe zone.
Washington has reportedly asked its allies in Europe and Australia to send troops into the zones, but there has been little indication that this would be acceptable to those countries without US participation.
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