Erdogan, Macron discuss Syria over phone

<p style="text-align:left">Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron discussed on February 3 Turkey&amp;rsquo;s ongoing &amp;ldquo;Operation Olive Branch&amp;rdquo; in Syria&amp;rsquo;s northwestern district of Afrin over the phone, state-run Anadolu Agency quoted a Turkish presidential source as saying.

Sharing information about the military operation, Erdogan told Macron that the operation aims to clear the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), its armed wing the People&rsquo;s Protection Units (YPG) and the Islamic State (IS) from Afrin, according to the source.

According to the report Erdogan also said Turkey does not have any designs on the country&rsquo;s territory.

In addition, the Turkish President spoke to his French counterpart about the cross-border rocket attacks perpetrated by the YPG on Turkey&rsquo;s bordering Hatay and Kilis provinces.

According to the source, Erdoğan and Macron also exchanged views on bilateral relations and the outcome of the Syrian National Dialogue Congress held in the Russian coastal city of Sochi this past week.

The leaders agreed to keep in close contact regarding regional issues, particularly on the political process in Syria, the source said.

Macron had infuriated Ankara last week when he said the operation in Afrin should not become an excuse to &ldquo;invade&rdquo; Syria and that he wanted Ankara to coordinate its actions with its allies.

Turkey launched &ldquo;Operation Olive Branch&rdquo; on Jan. 20 clear the Afrin district of the YPG.

Reporter&rsquo;s code: 50101

News Code 3864

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