PKK ‘terror swamp’ east of Euphrates biggest issue for Syria, Erdoğan says

The “terror swamp” east of the Euphrates river

remains the "biggest problem" for Syria in the future, said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Sunday.

The president was referring to the U.S.-backed SDF, which is made up of the YPG, which is dominated by Kurdistan Workers' Party terrorists.

"Currently the biggest problem for the future of Syria is the terror swamp, expanding under the auspices of some of our allies, east of the Euphrates," Erdoğan said in a news conference ahead of his visit to New York for the UN General Assembly.

Underscoring that no country has been more affected by the Syrian civil war than Turkey, he said he would draw attention to the humanitarian crises in his speech at the General Assembly.

Regarding a possible meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, Erdogan said it was currently not on the table but that he would consider it if it was requested by Washington.

Turkey and the U.S. are currently experiencing rocky relations after Washington imposed sanctions on two Turkish ministers for not releasing an American pastor.

Erdogan also conveyed his condolences to the people and government of Iran following the armed attack in southwestern Iran, which killed at least 25 people and injured more than 60 others.

"With such incidents, the sensitivities in the region grow," Erdogan added.