“Turkey’s goal is to create a security zone along its southern border,” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced late Monday evening after the government meeting in Ankara.

“After each new incident, our determination to create a 30-kilometer security zone along the borders of Turkey is growing. Those forces that come to this region to ensure their security, do not distinguish between terrorists and innocents, cause destruction, should respect Turkey’s sensitive approach to this issue,” Erdogan said.

It was expected that the Turkish authorities will announce the official decision to start a ground operation in the north of Syria during the government meeting held yesterday evening. According to Reuters, however, no such announcement has been made yet.

According to the Qatar-based Al Jazeera TV station, the Turkish authorities demanded the withdrawal of troops from the cities of Kobani, Manbij and Tel-Rifat from the command of the “Syrian Democratic Forces” controlling the northern regions of Syria. According to the information of the TV company, the Turkish authorities have set a deadline for the departure of the Kurdish forces from the cities. According to “Al Jazeera”, Ankara has also agreed that in the event of the withdrawal of Kurdish forces, the power in these cities will pass to the governing bodies appointed by Damascus.