Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday said his country's patience with US efforts to create a safe zone in northern Syria was running out, indicating an operation was imminent.
The two NATO allies, Turkey and the United States, agreed in August to establish a buffer zone to keep Syrian Kurdish militants away from the Turkish border and help repatriate refugees.
Erdogan has repeatedly threatened to launch a unilateral operation against the US-backed Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) if the buffer zone was delayed.
"At the current stage, we have no other choice other than to proceed on our own path," he said in the televised speech.
"We have tried every path. We have been extremely patient," he said.
"We cannot afford to lose a single day."
"I am asking you: Is Turkey a weak country that can accept such an imposition, blackmailing and vile game?"