ANKARA (Sputnik) – Speaking with reporters ahead of flying to the UN General Assembly in New York, Erdogan said he planned to raise the issue of establishing a "safe zone" in northern Syria that he estimated would span 1,930 square miles.
"I emphasize once again the contribution of the Euphrates Shield operation in northern Syria to resolving the refugee crisis. Currently, we are moving south," he said.
Erdogan noted that residents of Jarablus and other northern Syrian towns reclaimed from the Daesh jihadist group began returning to their homes since the operation was launched August 24.
The Turskih leader added he planned to raise with the United States the weekend airstrikes by the US-led coalition that killed dozens of Syrian government troops in the country’s southeast at the UN General Assembly.
"Of course, during my trip I will have the opportunity to learn first-hand how it all happened," Erdogan told reporters before departing for the UN General Assembly in New York.
