Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan says ultimatum issued on Syria operation

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said that an ultimatum has been given to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants who are on the territory of Syria. He said this on January 8 on the air of CNN Türk.

"We have made clear demands. If you do not want the option of a military operation, the foreign terrorists must leave Syria, the ringleaders must leave the country, and the remaining members of the organization must lay down their arms and work with the new Syrian administration," Fidan said.

He emphasized that the PKK's attempts to delay will not go unanswered, and ignoring the ultimatum may entail military action from Turkey, Gazeta.Ru reported.

According to him, Syria must solve the problem with the PKK and take the necessary steps to ensure the national security and integrity of their country.

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Earlier, on January 6, the new leadership of Syria during talks with representatives of the Kurdistan Workers' Party demanded that they lay down their arms. It was reported that the Kurdish party in exchange asked the new Syrian administration to integrate a PKK division or corps into the official Syrian army.

Earlier on December 13, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said during a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken in Ankara that Turkey is in favor of preserving Syria's territorial integrity but will defend its national security if it faces threats from the Syrian opposition or the PKK.

The situation in Syria has escalated as a result of a major attack by armed militias in Aleppo and Idlib, which began on November 28 and led to the Syrian army's retaliation against the militants.