Arab League: Turkey's Offensive in Syria Occupation of Arab Land

The Arab League condemned on Saturday the Turkish aggression against Syria and blamed Ankara for the spread of terrorism.

This came in a statement issued today during the Arab League (AL) emergency meeting at the level of Arab foreign ministers in Cairo to discuss the Turkish aggression against Syria.

The AL called for taking measures against Turkey in response to its aggression against Syria.

The statement stressed the territorial integrity of Syria and called on the UN Security Council to intervene to stop the Turkish aggression against Syria.

During the meeting, the AL Secretary General Ahmed Abo El-Gheit described the Turkish operation as a military offensive that violates the international legitimacy, accusing Ankara of committing "war crimes and crimes against humanity in Syria."

He warned that the number of fleeing Syrians due to the Turkish operation may reach 300,000.

Abo El-Gheit pointed out that 12,000 prisoners from the ISIS extremist group are held at seven prisons in the areas Turkey is going to capture, 4,000 of them foreigners.

He pointed out that the Turkish aggression in Syria is aimed at demographic change of the region.

The assistant secretary general of the AL, Hossam Zaki, pointed out that The Turkish offensive was an unacceptable attack on the sovereignty of  member state in the Arab League.

In New York, diplomats announced that the UN Security Council decided to hold an emergency session, on Thursday, to discuss the Turkish attack in northeastern Syria, "east of the Euphrates."

Diplomatic sources confirmed that Belgium, France, Germany, Poland and the United Kingdom, called for holding an emergency closed-door meeting of the Security Council, on Thursday, to discuss the Turkish military operation in Syria.

Observers considered the Turkish offensive in Syria as a "violation" against the sovereignty of the country, which has been suffering the scourge of war for years.

Many countries have warned of the repercussions of this military operation that will result in human tragedy, especially with the densely populated cities in northern Syria.

Dozens of Republicans in the US House of Representatives announced that they would submit a proposal for sanctions against Turkey in response to the recent aggression in northern Syria.

On Wednesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced the start of aggression on northeastern Syria.

Through the ground offensive, Turkey wants to create a safe zone on the Kurdish militia-held territory along its border.

The operation came after U.S. President Donald Trump unexpectedly withdrew American troops from the area following a phone call on Sunday with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The "Operation Peace Spring" has sparked widespread condemnation from around the world.