Turkey will carry out military operation against the PKK-affiliated People's Protection Units (YPG) in Syria's Afrin and clear all terror elements from northern Syria, Turkish Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli said Friday, APA reported citing Daily Sabah newspaper.
Speaking at an interview with Turkish broadcaster A Haber, Canikli said Russia told Turkey that it will withdraw its military assets from the region and talks between the two countries continue regarding the imminent operation.
Canikli said Turkey has all the information available regarding the number of YPG militants, weapons systems, their locations and is capable of blocking the terror group's defense systems.
Commenting on the U.S.'s recent statement on Afrin operation, the minister said the statement is a tactical nature, aiming to create confusion and is part of psychological warfare.
On Thursday, U.S. State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert Thursday called on Turkey to refrain from a military operation in Afrin against the YPG and instead focus on fight against Daesh.
An operation in Afrin is currently being considered as imminent in the wake of Turkey's successful seven-month Operation Euphrates Shield in northern Syria, which ended in March 2017.
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