Erdogan: Turkey will stay in Syria until the 'people are free'
The Turkish president's comments follow parliamentary elections in Syria over the weekend that critics described as a farce.
![GettyImages-1209790056.jpg](/sites/default/files/styles/article_hero_medium/public/almpics/2020/07/GettyImages-1209790056.jpg/GettyImages-1209790056.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=cyPuCU8t)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Tuesday that Turkish forces would stay in Syria, where they are backing the opposition fighting the country’s longtime dictator Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, until peace is restored.
“Until the Syrian people are free, peaceful and safe, we will remain in this country,” Erdogan said during a speech Tuesday, according to Turkish news outlet Ahval.