Iran opposes 'unacceptable' Turkish plan to establish military bases in Syria

Iran opposes 'unacceptable' Turkish plan to establish military bases in Syria
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that Ankara would set up 12 observation posts inside Syria.
2 min read
21 October, 2019
Iran's has repeatedly called for an end to Turkey's military offensive in northern Syria. [Getty]
Iran denounced any move by Turkey to establish military bases in northeastern Syria, calling it "unacceptable" and saying it would face opposition from the Islamic Republic and other countries, AFP reported. 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that Ankara would set up 12 observation posts inside Syria, warning that Ankara would restart the military operation against the Kurdish led Syrian Democratic Forces inside Syria.

"The Turks can have any bases and can do anything on their own territory and within their borders, but if you mean... establishing Turkish bases in Syria, this is unacceptable," Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Abbas Mousavi said in remarks aired on state television.

Read more: Turkish-backed Syrian group to enter
Ras al-Ain after SDF withdrawal

Such a step, he said, would be seen by the Islamic Republic as an "aggression against the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of an independent country.

"Naturally it will face opposition from the Islamic Republic of Iran and other countries," he added.

Iran has called for an immediate end to the Turkish offensive in Syria that was launched on October 9 following the withdrawal of United States’ troops from the region.

A US-brokered ceasefire was announced late on Thursday, giving Kurdish forces until Tuesday evening to withdraw from a "safe zone" Ankara wants to create along its southern frontier.

Turkish President Erdogan said the proposed safe zone would be 32 km deep and 444 km in length which will be monitored by Turkey.

But he also added: "We have no intention to stay there. This is out of the question."

 



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