Operation Euphrates Shield

Iran's top diplomat has said Tehran understands Türkiye's security concerns stemming from northern Syria amid Ankara's vows over a new military incursion against the presence of the terrorist organizations.

Türkiye is working on a project to construct some 240,000 new houses in northern Syria's 13 regions to enable a safe return to Syrians, Turkish Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu has said.

Among the 13 regions are Jerablus, Tell Abyad, Ras al-Ayn and Al Bab, the provinces cleared off terrorists by Turkish army in Operation Euphrates Shield.

Displaced Syrians who live in tent camps near the Turkish border are hoping to return homes once Türkiye goes ahead with the planned military operation to clear the Tal Rifaat and Manbij regions of terrorists.

Following Ankara's announcement of an upcoming military incursion in northern Syria, the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army has deployed some 5,000 armed men in the region to act with the Turkish army to clear Tal Rifaat and Manbij provinces of PKK/YPG terrorists.

"We can take Tal Rifaat in 24 hours with Turkish soldiers," SNA commanders said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Turkish army has started hitting some PKK/YPG targets in northern Syria's Tal Rifaat and Manbij districts with cannon fire as the preparations for an upcoming crossover military operation, aimed to be conducted for safe return of some 500,000 Syrians, are ongoing.

No one should try to prevent Turkey from conducting a military operation in Syria's north to secure its borders, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar has said.

"We act as principled, open, transparent and in compliance with international law as much as possible in all our activities," Akar told a group of journalists following a cabinet meeting late on June 6.

Turkey will address its security concerns in northern Syria with new operations against the YPG group, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on June 5.

"We will address security concerns with new operations," the president said, addressing his ruling Justice and Development Party's 30th Consultation and Assessment meeting.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sedat Önal held a telephone conversation on June 2 with Permanent Representative of the US to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield discussing the developments in Syria including Turkey's planned military operation into the neighboring country.

With the Turkish government's efforts to maintain public order and provide economic and social benefits to local communities in northern Syria, some 500,000 Syrians who had sought temporary protection in Turkey have returned to their homeland.

The number of terrorists in Turkey has dropped to around 150, Turkish Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu has said.

Speaking at the Gendarmerie General Command 2021 Evaluation Meeting, Soylu stated that the number of acts of terrorism decreased by 95 percent between the end of 2015 and 2021.