Ankara Expresses Disagreement to Moscow on Deployment of Syrian Army in Kurdish Areas: Al Jazeera

Ankara has informed Moscow of its opposition regarding the deployment of Syrian army units in areas controlled by the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Forces. This was reported on Tuesday by a Turkish official source to Al Jazeera, according to TASS.

"We have communicated our disagreement to Moscow regarding the official deployment of Syrian government troops in those areas," the source stated. "We have also drawn the Russian side's attention to the need for the dispersion of the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Forces and the withdrawal of those Kurdish formations from the areas in Syria that fall within Russia's sphere of influence," the interlocutor added.

On the night of November 20, Turkey conducted an air operation in northern Iraq and Syria, involving more than 50 aircraft and 20 drones. The strikes targeted the strongholds of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Turkish authorities have accused the PKK and Syrian Kurds of being involved in an attack in Istanbul on November 13, which resulted in the deaths of six people.

Since November 20, the Turkish Air Force and artillery have been continuing strikes in the northern regions of Aleppo, Raqqa, and Hasakah, targeting areas under the control of the Syrian Kurdish Democratic forces. Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan previously stated that he intends to carry out a ground operation in the north of the Arab Republic following the air operation. According to media reports, the Turkish army units stationed near the Syrian border have completed preparations for the operation and are awaiting orders to commence.