Erdoğan lashes out at French cement firm Lafarge

Duvar English

Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan criticized the role of France in northern Syria for aiding the People's Protection Units (YPG) which form the backbone of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Erdoğan mentioned the French cement firm Lafarge in particular and argued the cement of Lafarge goes to the YPG for building tunnels.

President Erdoğan questioned why the French cement firm Lafarge had a factory in northern Syria, talking to a meeting of his party’s provincial chairs in the capital Ankara Wednesday.

“Where did they get the cement for all those tunnels? Lafarge. France, you pay the price first. You are a government that aids and abets terrorist groups", he told.

Erdoğan defended that Turkey’s operation in northern Syria is designed to destroy terror corridors along the border and halt the establishment of a YPG/PKK state.

"Inside and outside the work is not finished yet"

“Inside and outside the work is not finished yet. The only reason we launched Operation Peace Spring is our intention to destroy those terror corridors and those who want to establish that terrorist state. We will continue our pursuit until the last terrorist is gone. Neither threats, nor blackmail, nor insidious games will be able to hold us back”, he added.

On Oct. 9, Turkey launched Operation Peace Spring to clear east of the Euphrates River in northern Syria from the YPG.

On Oct. 22, Turkey and Russia reached a deal under which the YPG would pull back 30 kilometers south of Turkey’s border with northern Syria within 150 hours and security forces from Turkey and Russia would conduct joint patrols there.

The 150-hour period ended on Tuesday, Oct. 29.