Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan explained the reasons for the military operation launched by Turkey in northern Syria, while accusing Russia of refusing to fulfill its duty in the region, reports the Russian site Lenta.

“Despite our repeated warnings to Russia, which, according to our 2019 Sochi Agreement, is responsible for the destruction of terrorists in northern Iraq and Syria, Moscow refuses to fulfill its duty,” Daily Sabah quoted Erdogan as saying.

He also stated that Turkey will not remain silent and will independently take measures against terrorists as part of Operation Sword Claw, launched this weekend.

AFP reported on Sunday evening that at least 31 people were killed after Turkish airstrikes in Syria. Erdogan confirmed 12 strikes on the Kobani area and added that the operation would continue.

Erdogan’s government has drawn up plans for a new military operation against Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) fighters in northern Syria in the wake of the Nov. 13 attack in Istanbul, which Ankara blames on Syrian Kurds.

The PKK denies any connection to this terrorist attack, saying it was not deliberately aimed at civilians.

“It is common knowledge that we have nothing to do with this event, that we do not target civilians and that we oppose operations that have such a goal,” the organization said in a statement carried by the PKK-affiliated Firat news agency.

Recep Erdogan’s rare accusations against Russia

At the end of last week, Recep Erdogan emphasized that Operation Sword Claw is not limited to airstrikes against the PKK, adding that Ankara will use all “relevant units” for the success of the mission.

“As we have said before, if someone violates our country and lands, we will make them pay,” the Ankara leader said.

Asked by Turkish journalists whether he had discussed the operation with Russia and the US, Erdogan replied that there were no talks with US President Joe Biden or Vladimir Putin.

“But both Biden and Putin already know that we can do such things at any time in this region,” added Recep Erdogan.

His accusations against Moscow over the inaction of its armed forces in Syria come despite the fact that relations between Turkey and Russia appear to have been unscathed by the war of aggression launched by Putin on February 24 against Ukraine.

Turkey defied EU sanctions against Russia, began paying for Russian gas in rubles, and Erdogan personally ordered his government to begin building a gas hub proposed by Vladimir Putin.

Erdogan, however, asked Russia to return to Ukraine all territories occupied by Moscow’s armed forces, citing the plight of ethnic Tatars of the Islamic faith in Crimea, who support the government in Kyiv and oppose the illegal annexation of the peninsula. it was 8 years ago.

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