Published 20:31 IST, October 15th 2019
President Erdogan says Turkey will send back to 1 mn refugees to Syria
Turkey will send back to Syria one million refugees as an initial step, while two more million will follow, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on October 15.
Turkey will send back to Syria one million refugees as the initial step, while two more million will follow, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on October 15. Erdogan said in his address at the Turkic Council in Baku that Turkey is planning to send one million refugees to Syria as the first step and two more million in the second step. He said that within a very short span of time, Turkey will secure its border stretching up to Iraq. The Turkish leader has just sworn to open the gate for Syrian refugees if Ankara's ongoing offensive in Syria's north, named Operation Peace Spring, is qualified as an invasion.
Ruling party to remake a region of 1 million: President Erdogan
Notwithstanding widespread international criticism for his military raid into northern Syria, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan remained rebellious, abiding by his promise to return as many displaced people as possible to a border corridor that will be carved out by force. He said to his ruling party that they will remake a region for 1 million people, for the individuals who need to return to their nation and don't have a home to go back to. Last week, Turkey sent its military into northern Syria after announcing plans to create a buffer zone that pushes back Kurdish militants and potentially allows some of the 3.6 million Syrian refugees settled in the country to return.
Attacks happened after withdrawal of US forces
The offensive was launched after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the withdrawal of American forces in northern Syria, a decision that has been fiercely criticized around the world and within his Republican Party. Opponents of Turkey’s offensive into northern Syria argue that the assault is purely aimed at driving out Kurdish fighters and U.S. lawmakers have warned of potential sanctions. The word betrayal is doing the rounds as Kurdish fighters proved pivotal in the fight against the Islamic State group. But Erdogan’s stated reason, according to Turkey observers who spoke to The Associated Press, faces overwhelming financial, political and practical obstacles.
(With inputs from agencies)
Updated 23:07 IST, October 15th 2019