Military operation in Syria needs UN authorization or Damascus' consent: Russian ambassador

Turkey's military operation in the north of Syria should be undertaken with the authorization of the United Nation or Damascus' consent, Russian Ambassador to Ankara Andrey Karlov said Tuesday.

"We understand the causes for the Euphrates Shield operation led by Turkish armed forces in Syria. The perpetrators of the horrible terror attacks in Turkey in the majority of cases came from Syria," Karlov said in his speech at the Turkish private Atilim University.

"However, there is one 'but'. In accordance with the norms of international law, such operations should be conducted with the authorization of the UN or with the consent of the country where the operation is being carried out," he stressed.

"This requirement was not respected, and we regret for that," the ambassador said.

The Turkish army launched a cross-border Euphrates Shield Operation on Aug. 24, along with the U.S.-led coalition in Syria's northern border-town of Jarablus to clear the area of the Islamic State (IS).

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said both IS and the Democratic Union Party (PYD) threatened Turkey from northern Syria and neither terror groups nor their supporters stood a chance against the unity and solidarity of Turkey.

The Euphrates Shield was the first air operation Turkish army launched in northern Syria since the downing of a Russian jet on Nov. 24, 2015. Endit