Turkey aims to open up a safe zone in northern Syria as part of Operation Euphrates Shield, Erdogan said at the sidelines of the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly, Sabah reported.

"Here is our goal: We want to declare a safe zone that is 95 by 45 kilometers (60 by 30 miles), or 4,000-5,000 square kilometers (2,385-3,100 square miles)," Erdogan told the audience.

The targeted region includes the towns of Jarablus and al-Rai, which have been liberated from Daesh by moderate opposition forces supported by the Turkish military since Ankara launched Operation Euphrates Shield late last month.

Erdogan said the government wants to build settlements in the safe zone for Syrian refugees in Turkey to return to their country, or for those in Syria who seek to flee the ongoing bloodshed.