On December 15, Turkiye's Defence Minister Yasar Guler highlighted the need to dismantle Kurdish groups PKK/YPG in Syria. He stated that Turkiye is in talks with the United States regarding this issue. Guler emphasized, "Our primary issue in Syria is the dismantling of the PKK/YPG terrorist organization. We have expressed this to our American friends. We expect them to reassess their position."
Guler also reported that Turkiye has neutralized 2,939 terrorists in operations conducted in northern Iraq and Syria since the start of the year. He clarified that Turkiye's concern is with terrorists, not the Kurdish population, saying, "We have no problem with our Kurdish brothers and sisters living in Iraq and Syria. Our problem is only and solely with the terrorists." Protecting Syria's territorial integrity remains a top priority for Turkiye.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed that the US is in direct contact with the Syrian rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which has taken control of Damascus after overthrowing Bashar al-Assad's regime. Blinken also reiterated the US's commitment to finding Austin Tice, an American journalist missing in Syria since 2012. He stated, "We've been in contact with HTS and with other parties. We have impressed upon everyone we've been in contact with the importance of helping find Austin Tice and bringing him home."
The Syrian rebel forces, led by HTS, have entered Damascus, causing President Bashar al-Assad to flee, ending his over two-decade rule.
Turkiye is the name of the country that is also known as Turkey. It is located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia.
Yasar Guler is the Defence Minister of Turkiye. He is responsible for the country's defense and military matters.
Kurdish groups refer to organizations or communities of Kurdish people, an ethnic group living in parts of Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran.
PKK stands for the Kurdistan Workers' Party, and YPG stands for the People's Protection Units. Both are Kurdish groups, but Turkiye considers them as terrorist organizations.
The US involvement in Syria refers to the United States' actions and interests in the Syrian conflict, including military and diplomatic efforts.
Antony Blinken is the US Secretary of State, which means he is responsible for the country's foreign affairs and international relations.
HTS stands for Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a rebel group in Syria. It is involved in the ongoing conflict in the region.
Damascus is the capital city of Syria. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.
Austin Tice is a journalist who went missing in Syria in 2012. Efforts are ongoing to find him and bring him back safely.
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