Turkish soldiers prepare their tanks near the Syrian-Turkish border, at Reyhanli district in Hatay, Turkey, on Jan. 21, 2018. (Xinhua File photo)
DAMASCUS, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- A Kurdish commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said the Turkey-proposed security zone in northern Syria would be "a military occupation," Alarabiya TV reported Friday.
The Kurdish-led SDF has never wanted to be an antagonist to Turkey, said Redro Khalil during an interview with the Alarabiya TV, adding that the border between Syria and Turkey was calm from the Kurdish side throughout the years of war in Syria.
"We have expressed our intention to reach understandings with Turkey to allay their fears," he noted.
The Kurdish commander, meanwhile, urged Ankara to stop the threats to invade Kurdish areas in northern Syria.
"We completely reject" the security zone wanted by Ankara," Khalil said.
The situation in northern and northeastern Syria, particularly in the Kurdish-controlled areas, returned under the spotlight recently, after U.S. President Donald Trump announced the decision to withdraw all troops from Syria.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said recently that Turkey will set up a 30-km deep safe zone in northeastern Syria, which is a move suggested by Trump.
Both sides will continue discussions about the modalities and technical aspects of the proposed zone, he added.
