New Delhi, Oct 10: Turkey has on Wednesday launched the offensive operation to safeguard its border by removing terrorist elements from the border region along Syria.
The Turkish defence ministry said on Thursday the nation’s troops are continuing their advancement into northern Syria following its launched offensive operation – “Operation Peace Spring“, to remove PKK/YPG groups that control northern Syria. Ankara’s decision of advancing into Syria is in line with self-defence set out in the United Nations (UN) charter, the ministry claimed.
Let’s read how the world has reacted to Turkey’s invasion of Syria_
United States :
US President Donald Trump stated Turkey’s invasion of Syria was “a bad idea” and not backed by Washington, calling on Ankara to protect the religious minorities.
In an official statement released by the White House, Trump said: “The United States does not endorse this attack and has made it clear to Turkey that this operation is a bad idea.”
“Turkey has committed to protecting civilians, protecting religious minorities, including Christians, and ensuring no humanitarian crisis takes place – and we will hold them to this commitment.”
United Nations (UN) :
United Nations (UN) secretary-general Antonio Guterres has said any military intervention must comply with UN charter, as well as, international human rights law.
Guterres’ spokesperson Farhan Haq stated: “Civilians and civilian infrastructure should be protected. The secretary-general believes that there’s no military solution to the Syrian conflict.”
The UN security council (UNSC) president, South Africa’s ambassador Jerry Matthews Matjila, has also urged Ankara to “protect civilians” and exercise maximum restraint.
European Union (EU) :
EU head Jean-Claude Juncker has demanded Turkey to immediately halt its military’s offensive operation into northern Syria, telling Ankara the EU won’t grant financial assistance for any so-called US-proposed “safe zone” that might be created at the Syria-Turkey border.
EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said Turkey’s unilateral actions threaten concerted move by the West and other nations to defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL).
She said the Turkish military operation risked “protracted instability in northeast Syria, providing fertile ground for the resurgence of Daesh”.
NATO :
NATO head Jens Stoltenberg has urged Turkey to exercise “restraint”, while also acknowledging Ankara had “legitimate security concerns”.
During a media conference in Rome, Italy, Stoltenberg said, “It’s important to avoid actions that may further destabilise the region, escalate tensions, and cause more human suffering,” adding, “I count on Turkey to act with restraint and to ensure that any action it may take in northern Syria is proportionate and measured.”
Arab League :
Arab League secretary-general Hossan Zaki said foreign ministers from across the region will be holding a meeting on Saturday in Cario, in order to discuss Turkey’s offensive operation into northern Syria.
Pan-Arab outfit head Ahmed Aboul Gheit said Ankara’s incursion is a “blatant violation of Syria’s sovereignty and threatens Syria’s integrity”, adding the move also threatens to escalate further conflicts in northeastern Syria, and “could allow for the revival” of the ISIL.
Egypt :
Egyptian foreign ministry has criticized the Turkish offensive operation as a “blatant and unacceptable attack on the sovereignty of a brotherly Arab state”, as well as, also called for an urgent conference of the council.
Saudi Arabia :
Riyadh said the operation would undermine the disputed region’s security, as well as, the fight against the ISIL. Saudi foreign ministry, in a tweet, said the Turkish military’s “aggressions” would have “negative repercussions on the security and stability of the region”.
#KSA pointed out that the seriousness of this aggression on northeastern Syria has negative repercussions on the security and stability of the region, especially undermining the int'l efforts in combating ISIS organization.
— Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) October 9, 2019
Syria :
Syrian foreign ministry criticized Turkey’s military plans, describing it as a “blatant violation” of international rules and pledging to resist an incursion.
Iraq :
Iraq President Barham Salih has called Ankara’s “incursion” a grave escalation via twitter. He said the action will lead to a humanitarian catastrophe, strengthen the ability of terrorists to reorganize their remnants, and pose a threat to regional and international security.
Turkey’s military incursion into Syria is a grave escalation; will cause untold humanitarian suffering, empower terrorist groups. The world must unite to avert a catastrophe, promote political resolution to the rights of all Syrians, including Kurds, to peace, dignity & security
— Barham Salih (@BarhamSalih) October 9, 2019
Salih called on the international community to unite to avert this disaster and back a political settlement to the grave suffering of the Syrians and the US-backed Kurds, to enjoy fundamental rights to dignity, security, and peace.
التوغل التركي العسكري في سوريا تصعيد خطير؛ سيؤدي إلى فاجعة إنسانية ويُعزز قدرة الإرهابيين لإعادة تنظيم فلولهم، ويشكل خطراً على الأمن الإقليمي والدولي. يجب أن يتوحد المجتمع الدولي لتدارك الكارثة، ودعم حل سياسي لمعاناة السوريين، والكرد منهم، للتمتع بحقوقهم في السلام والأمن والكرامة
— Barham Salih (@BarhamSalih) October 9, 2019
United Arab Emirates (UAE) :
In an official statement, Abu Dhabi’s foreign ministry stated Turkish aggression depicts a grave development and unacceptable and blatant aggression against an Arab state’s sovereignty in international law’s contravention.
Bahrain :
The Bahrainian foreign ministry criticized the Turkish offensive, state-run BNA news agency reported. Bahrain, in an official statement, supports the calls for an urgent meeting of the Arab League panel to uphold a unified stand towards this aggression.
Kuwait :
On Wednesday, Kuwait called the offensive in northeastern Syria a direct threat to peace and stability in the region, calling for maximum restraint, the state-run news outfit said.
Russia :
Russian President Vladimir Putin, ahead of the launch of Turkey’s invasion of Syria, urged Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to “think carefully” before pursuing any action.
“Putin called on his Turkish partners to think carefully about the situation so as not to harm overall efforts to resolve the Syrian crisis,” the presidency stated following a telephonic conversation two leaders.
United Kingdom (UK) :
UK foreign secretary Dominic Raab, in a statement, said he had “serious concerns about the unilateral military action that Turkey has taken”.
He added the Turkish move risks destabilizing the region, exacerbating humanitarian suffering, and undermining the progress made against Daesh which should be world powers’ collective focus.
Germany :
Heiko Mass, the German foreign minister, said the operation would further lead to destabilization of the region, as well as, could also bolster ISIL, urging Ankara to put an end to the invasion.
France :
French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian via twitter said the mission is jeopardizing the “anti-Islamic State coalition’s humanitarian and security efforts” and is a risk for Europeans’ security.
Defence minister Florence Parly called for Turkey to put an end to its offensive, saying it is dangerous.
“[It is] dangerous for the security of the Kurds. Dangerous because it benefits Islamic State, which we have been fighting for five years. It must stop,” Parly wrote on Twitter.
Italy :
Italy’s Prime Minister Guiseppe Conte said Turkey’s operation represents a risk of destabilization of the region that would harm civilians.
Netherlands :
Foreign minister Stef Blok stated he has summoned Turkey’s ambassador to Dutch. In a tweet, he said he has called on Turkey not to pursue the path it has chosen.
He wrote: “No one can benefit from the potentially terrible humanitarian consequences. The operation can trigger new refugee flows and harm the fight against IS and stability in the region.”
Denmark :
Foreign minister Jeppe Kofod via tweet expressed deep concerns over Turkey’s invasion of northeast Syria.
In his view, he said, the incursion is a “regrettable and wrong” decision which could have some serious outcomes for the fight against ISIL and for civilians. Kofod called on Turkey to exercise restraint, saying Denmark is in close contact with its allies over the matter.