“We endorse a ceasefire that would relieve Syrian brothers”, said Recep Tyyip Erdogan.
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The issue has already provoked a rare rift between Ankara and its chief North Atlantic Treaty Organisation ally Washington, which works closely with the YPG as an effective fighting force against IS in Syria.
“The aim of these terrorists is clear: they would like to divide Syria in the same manner as ISIL [has]”, he said adding that another terror group, Al Nusra, also wants to establish its own states in their respective strongholds as well.
The truce excludes attacks on the Islamic State group and the Nusra Front, al-Qaida’s local affiliate. The Aamaq news agency, which acts as its unofficial media wing, said Isil fighters were in “full control” of Khanaser, a town southeast of Aleppo.
“I am sure that Russian tourists will once again find their way” to Turkey, he said.
“The PYD, unlike other Kurdish groups in northern Syria, led a pro-Assad policy and started supporting Muhaberat, the Syrian secret intelligence service and pro-Assad Shabiha forces”.
The PYD has denied any involvement in the attack.
Turkey, a strong backer of a range of rebel groups, including some hardline factions, has been shelling the YPG positions in western Syria.
The president said its key ally Washington’s approach towards the PYD did not bode well with the “alliance spirit”.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group, said the intensity of Russian airstrikes has declined in recent days since the ceasefire deal emerged and the attacks seem more focused on Islamic State militants.
He also told Anatolian that Saudi planes, due to take part in air strikes against Islamic State, were expected to arrive at Turkey’s Incirlik Air Base “today or tomorrow”.
“But this does not change at all the base fact that this was an attack committed in collaboration between the PKK and YPG”, he said. Turkey, which opposes the Syrian government, has supported rebels intending to overthrow Assad, and along with Qatar and Saudi Arabia, has backed umbrella rebel groups such as The Army of Conquest, which allegedly bears ties to al-Qaeda.
He entered Turkey in 2014 with a fake identity document presenting himself as Salih Muhammed Neccar and claiming to be a Syrian citizen.
A halt to ongoing hostilities in Syria is scheduled to go into effect Saturday, the U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Federation announced Monday.
The HNC said the “acceptance of the truce is conditional” to the Syrian government ending its siege of 18 rebel-held areas, releasing detainees and the cessation of aerial and artillery bombardment.
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Turkey has been alarmed by advances of YPG forces in northern Syria, fearing they are working to create an autonomous Kurdish region on the country’s doorstep.
