Wednesday, March 05, 2025 | 05:11 PM ISTहिंदी में पढें
Business Standard
Notification Icon
userprofile IconSearch

Angela Merkel urges Erdogan to immediately end Syria offensive: Berlin

In a phone call with Erdogan, Merkel 'spoke in favour for an immediate end to the military operation', the chancellor's office said in a statement

Angela Merkel

AFP | PTI Berlin

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday urged President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to halt Turkey's offensive in northern Syria immediately, warning it could spark further destabilisation of the region and a resurgence of the IS jihadist group.

In a phone call with Erdogan, Merkel "spoke in favour for an immediate end to the military operation", the chancellor's office said in a statement.

The operation threatens to drive large parts of the population from their homes, she said, noting that it would also risk "destabilisation of the region and lead to a resurgence of the IS".

Germany and France on Saturday said they were suspending arms exports to Turkey over its offensive in Syria against the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG).

 

Turkey sees the YPG as a terrorist off-shoot of Kurdish rebels in its own territory, but Western powers used the Kurds as the main ground force against the Islamic State group in Syria.

Don't miss the most important news and views of the day. Get them on our Telegram channel

First Published: Oct 13 2019 | 7:00 PM IST

Explore News