Turkish minister says other military operations possible in Syria

Turkey has not ruled out the possibility of yet another military intervention in war-torn Syria despite officially announcing the completion of a months-long offensive in the Arab country, claiming that the end of a military operation does not mean that “threats” against Ankara have been eliminated.

“When the need arises and a threat occurs against Turkey’s security, Turkey will not hesitate to conduct other operations in order to eliminate this threat,” said Turkish Defense Minister Fikri Isik on Friday, two days after Prime Minister Binali Yildirim announced the end of Turkey’s major military operation on Syrian soil.

In August 2016, Turkey began a unilateral military intervention in northern Syria, code-named Operation Euphrates Shield, sending tanks and warplanes across the border. Ankara claimed that its military campaign was aimed at pushing the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group from Turkey’s border with Syria and stopping the advance of Kurdish forces, who were themselves fighting Daesh, but Damascus denounced the operation as a breach of its sovereignty.

“Therefore, the end of Operation Euphrates Shield does not mean the threats against Turkey are completely over,” Isik further told reporters in the eastern Black Sea province of Gumushane.

“The operation is over, but what needs to be done will continue to be done,” Isik further said.