City
Epaper

Military attack on Syria unacceptable, Italy tells Turkey

By IANS | Updated: October 17, 2019 23:55 IST

Turkey's week-old military offensive in northeast Syria is unacceptable and must be halted, Italy's Premier Giuseppe Conte told the Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday, sources said.

Open in App

Conte made the remarks during an hour-long phone call with Erdogan which was "extremely tense at times," according to sources in Conte's office.

Conte reiterated Italy's request that the Turkey stop its military incursion in the border area with Syria, which has created new humanitarian crisis. At least 160,000 civil have fled their homes and there are security fear over thousands of Islamic State jihadists abandoned in Kurdish jails.

A statement issued later by the Italian Prime Minister's Office said Conted told Erdogan that Nato member Turkey should play its "strategic" geopolitical role "responsibly" and halt its military action in Syria.

"Conte repeatedly urged Erdogan to responsibly play its strategic geopolitical role and that of Nato ally and act in the collective interest of the entire region's stability," it said.

Italy's public and politic back the government's view that Turkey must stop its week-old military offensive in northeast Syria, said the statement.

Turkey's "unilateral initiative" is having "negative and counter-productive" effects and is causing "a humanitarian crisis, suffering and displacement," it said.

"Conte invited Erdogan to withdraw Turkish troops from the area to prevent the humanitarian crisis getting worse as well as jeopardising the fight against the Islamic State and United Nations efforts to reach a political solution (to the Syrian conflict)," the statement said.

Protecting Syria's civil and ending the country's eight-year civil war are "inalienable priorities for Italy and the whole of the international community," Conte told Erdogan, according to the statement.

Turkey's Operation Peace Spring offensive in northeast Syria began on 9 October after United States President Donald Trump said that US forces would withdraw from the region.

/AKI

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: ConteSyriaErdoganTurkeyItaly
Open in App

Related Stories

InternationalIraq Resumes Oil Exports via Kurdish Pipeline Amid West Asia War and Supply Crisis

InternationalItaly Tram Derailment Video: Two Killed After Tram Derails and Slams Into Building in Milan

InternationalTurkey Plane Crash: Pilot Killed After F-16 Jet Crashes During Patrolling Near Balıkesir

Social ViralTurkey: Quick CPR Saves Bird's Life After Goalkeeper Accidently Hit Seagull With Ball in Istanbul

CricketT20 World Cup 2026 Standings: Updated Points Table After Australia vs Oman Match

International Realted Stories

InternationalPakistan's crackdown on Ahmadis exposes deep-rooted institutional persecution: Report

International"A whole civilisation will die tonight": Trump claims "total regime change" in Iran as deadline looms

InternationalUS has largely achieved military objectives in Iran: JD Vance

InternationalUS official confirms strike at "dozens of military targets" on Iran's Kharg Island: Report

InternationalAfghanistan: Three women killed, two children injured as wall collapses after heavy rains in Khost