We have no direct contact with the Assad regime, says Turkey

Turkey has no direct contact with the Syrian regime, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said Wednesday.

The statement comes a day after President Erdoğan reached a deal with his Russian counterpart Putin which entails Syrian and Russian forces deploying in northeast Syria to remove YPG terrorists and their weapons from the border.

"Turkey's efforts have prevented establishment of a terror state in northern Syria," Mevlut Cavusoglu told Anadolu Agency’s Editors’ Desk.

Addressing Turkey’s recent counter-terrorism push in northern Syria, Cavusoglu called Operation Peace Spring “a milestone in Syria's future."

“World's two biggest powers accept legitimacy of Turkey’s Operation Peace Spring in northern Syria,” Cavusoglu said referring to the U.S. and Russia.

YPG/PKK terrorists will be retreated 30 kilometers [18 miles] south of Turkish border in Syria, including the northeastern Qamishli city, Cavusoglu added.

On Oct. 9, Turkey launched Operation Peace Spring to eliminate terrorists from northern Syria east of the Euphrates River in order to secure Turkey’s borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees, and ensure Syria’s territorial integrity.

Ankara agreed with Washington on Oct. 17 to pause its operation for 120-hours to allow the withdrawal of YPG/PKK terrorists from the planned safe zone.