Erdogan Says Operation in Syria's Idlib Largely Completed, Next is Afrin

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday that his country's armed forces had largely completed their military mission in Syria's northwestern Idlib Province.

As he was hailing its completion, he pointed out that control of Syria's Afrin region remained an issue, TRT reported.

Afrin is under the control of YPG, which is the armed wing of   PYD, which Turkey says is simply the Syrian branch of the PKK.

Speaking to his ruling Justice and Development Party's parliamentary group, Erdogan said, "The operation in Idlib was largely completed."

"The Afrin issue is ahead of us, all of these matters pose threats to us, and we are determined to tackle issues in every field that poses threat to our country. As I said before, we can suddenly come one night, we can suddenly hit one night," Erdogan said.

The Idlib mission came about as a result of an agreement in September to establish a fourth de-escalation zone in Syria that largely coincides with the borders of the country's Idlib Province.

Turkey’s Army began setting up observation posts in Idlib this month under a deal with Russia and Iran to reduce fighting between insurgents and the Syrian government.