(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) ANKARA, Feb 15 (KUNA) -- Only Turkey's forces should exist in the intended safe zone in northeastern Syria, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on Friday.
The safeguarding by the US-led international coalition - against the so-called Islamic State - of the buffer zone would be neither sufficient nor suitable, Akar was quoted by the state-owned Anadolu news agency as saying.
The safe zone in Syria is not only important to Turkey but also to the safe return of the Syrian refugees, he said.
The minister indicated that the Turkish military operations Euphrates Shield and Olive Branch in northern Syria resulted in the neutralization of more than IS 3,000 elements.
He warned that the US withdrawal from Syria might be a safe zone for "terrorists", stressing the importance of removing the People's Protection Units (YPG) from northern Syria for the sake of Turkey's security.
Turkey has frequently threatened to launch military operations against the YPG and Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) designated by Ankara as two "terrorist" groups.
It also considers them as an affiliate to Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). (end) rs.hm
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