TEHRAN (FNA)- The Turkish Army plans to expand the scope of its militaryoperations against the Kurdish forces to cover areas at the border withIraq in Eastern Syria after Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu heldmeetings with senior Iraqi officials, the Arabic-language media reported.
During the meetings, the Turkish foreign minister has discussed PKK’spresence in Sinjar and the military base recently set up by the group tolaunch attacks on Turkish territories, the Arabic-language Sputnik newsagency quoted unnamed informed sources as saying.
The sources said that the Turkish and Iraqi officials also voiced theirconcern over the US support for the Kurdish groups stationed alongSyria-Turkey borders and some border regions along the Turkey-Iraq-Syriatriangle.
Meantime, Deputy Head of Security Research Center Emad Olov said themeeting was linked to the military operations in Afrin region.
Olov reiterated that the Turkish military operation underway against theSyrian Democratic Forces (SDF) will expand to the Iraqi borders.
In a relevant development on Monday, a Turkish media outlet reported thatthe Turkish armed forces have advanced into Azaz region East of Afrinwithin the framework of the Olive Branch Operation in Northern Syria.
The state-run Anadolu news agency reported that the Turkish army hascontinued its ground assault as the Olive Branch Operation entered itsthird day.
Anadolu said that the army men have advanced into the Azaz region too toexpand the scope of the operation.
President Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday that Turkey would not take a stepback from the operation in the Afrin region. He also said that Ankara hadan agreement with Russia regarding its military operation against aUS-backed Kurdish militia.
Speaking at an Ankara Chamber of Commerce awards ceremony, Erdogan stressedthat he wants to support the national security and territorial integrity ofSyria as Turkey “has no designs on territories of another country.”