Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said Monday that he would expand military operations in northern Iraq.
Hours after the Afrin invasion, the Turkish president said in a statement that he would expand his operations against the Kurds in eastern Syria and northern Iraq.
The target, he said, would be the cities of Manbij, Ayn al-Arab, Tal Abyad, Rasulayn and Qamishli, "until terrorism is eliminated".
Turkish authorities see the People's Protection Party (YPG) as an extension of the PKK, which has bases in northern Iraq and has been targeting Turkish targets for years.
Turkey has warned the Iraqi government and its forces that it will attack the PKK unless action is taken.
"If you do not handle it then we will suddenly enter Sinjar one night and clear the PKK there," said Tayyip Erdogan.