ISTANBUL, Oct 20 (KUNA) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Sunday that 1,500 square-kilometers of territories were rescued from terror group in northern Syria.
Speaking at an anti-smoking program held in Istanbul, Erdogan said Turkey would enjoy YPG/PKK's withdrawal from the safe-zone territory, adding Ankara would take the safe-zone area under protection.
In recent days, Turkey agreed to pause its Operation Peace Spring for 120 hours to allow the withdrawal of terrorist YPG/PKK forces from the planned safe zone.
"We expect our American allies to keep their promises this time," the Turkish leader noted.
Erdogan went onto say that Turkey made the agreement with the US, not YPG/PKK terrorists, and some parties sought to distort this fact.
Stressing that On Oct. 9, Turkey had launched Operation Peace Spring to eliminate terrorists from northern Syria in order to secure Turkey's borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees and ensure Syria's territorial integrity.
Turkish President Erdogan and US Vice President Mike Pence also agreed on Turkey having 20 miles (32 kilometers) of safe zone south of the Turkish border in Syria.
Ankara wants to clear northern Syria east of the Euphrates River of the terrorist PKK and its Syrian offshoot, the YPG/PKK.
In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US and the European Union, has been responsible for deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants. (end) ta.mb