Erdogan: Turkey to increase safe zones in Syria

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Sunday that Turkey would “continue to increase the number of safe zones within Syria to include the east of the Euphrates” in the coming period, Anadolu reports.

Erdogan addressed the Turkish American National Steering Committee in New York and spoke to the Turkish and Muslim communities in the city.

“We will not abandon Jerusalem, our first Qıblah [Islamic direction of prayer] to invaders and those who perform state terror on Palestinians,” Erdogan said.

He also criticized the UN Security Council for serving the interests of “certain powers” rather than working to ensure global peace and stability.

Erdogan is in the city for the UN General Assembly where he will address members later this week.