Ankara, Jan 14 (IANS): Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday that Turkey would conduct military operations in Syria's Afrin if Kurdish Peoples' Protection Units (YPG) militants do not withdraw in a week.

Speaking in the eastern province of Elazig, Erdogan threatened the U.S.-backed YPG, saying Turkey would interfere "if the terrorists in Afrin do not surrender," Xinhua reported.

The President added that Turkey will act alone to protect its security against YPG militants even if the US continues its partnership with the group.

Ankara considers the YPG as a terror group and an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in its own border.

During his speech, Erdogan stressed that Turkish forces "are destroying the western wing of this corridor with the Idlib operation," referring to the artillery operation launched on the same day.

According to information gathered by Anadolu Agency, Turkish artillery units on Saturday fired at least 36 times on PKK/PYD forces from Turkey's southern province Hatay and a Turkish Armed Forces observation point in Idlib.