Politics of Syria

Turkey pledges to continue its offensive in Syria and condemn the "dirty deal" between President Bashar al-Assad's regime and Kurdish forces following the withdrawal of US forces from Northern Syria, Prof. Fahrettin Altun, Director of Communications at the Turkish presidency, said.

The fight against terrorism and radicalism in the Balkans and in Europe will be a major theme during the Aqaba Process which will be hosted by Bulgaria in 2020. This was made clear after Prime Minister Boyko Borissov's one-day visit to Jordan. According to Borissov, the war in Syria is a reason to pay more attention to migrant pressure.

A total of 550 PKK/PYD-YPG terrorists have been "neutralized" since the start of Turkey's anti-terror operation in northern Syria, the National Defense Ministry said on Oct. 14.
Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.
The ministry updated the figure in a Twitter post.

Russia on Oct. 11 blocked a statement at the UN Security Council that called for a halt to Turkey's military operation in northeastern Syria.

Turkey has expressed its expectation from NATO to provide clear solidarity in its fight against the YPG in northeastern Syria, saying the struggle will also strengthen the alliance territory.

The UN Security Council could not agree on Turkey's military actions in Syria.

In a joint statement, the European countries called on Turkey to "stop its unilateral hostilities" in Syria. However, the document did not receive the support of other members of the Security Council.

Greece has condemned Turkey's unilateral offensive in northeastern Syria, calling it a "direct violation of international law," while warning that the operation could have serious humanitarian consequences.
In a statement on Thursday, the Foreign Ministry urged Turkey to halt its military operation, echoing the European Union position expressed on Wednesday.

Washington didn't give Turkey a "green light" for its operation in Syria, contrary to some allegations, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in an interview with BBC TV, TASS reported.

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces coalition, which controls northeastern Syria, said a Turkish air strike had hit a jail holding jihadists, Reuters reported.

"One of the prisons that ISIS detainees (are) held in was struck by Turkish airstrike," the Kurdish-Arab coalition told Twitter in no further detail.

The Turkish presidential communications director has dismissed comments on social media by U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham about the country's newly-launched operation against the YPG in northern Syria.