Turkey to Seal 30-Kilometer Gap at Syrian Border, Erdoğan

Turkey will undertake new measures to close a 30-kilometer gap at its border with Syria, which poses a threat of terrorism. This announcement was made by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Monday following a government meeting held under his chairmanship.

“To completely eliminate the threat of terrorism emanating from Syria, we will undertake new measures aimed at sealing the 30-kilometer security zone,” he stated.

Erdoğan had previously announced plans for a ground operation in northern Syria. According to Turkish media, the new operation will allow Ankara to secure control over a 600-kilometer section of the Syrian border and minimize terrorist threats arising from adjacent areas. The primary threats to national security in Ankara are the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and its Syrian branch, the People’s Protection Units (YPG).

Military sources indicate that approximately 50,000 Turkish soldiers and armed fighters from the Syrian opposition, supported by Ankara, are expected to be involved in the operation.

Since 2015, Turkey's operations in northern Syria have resulted in the creation of a security zone between the cities of Azaz and Jarabulus in northern Aleppo, the occupation of Afrin, and the control of border areas east of the Euphrates River.