Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated his vow to resolutely continue Turkey's anti-terrorist operation until the last one no longer poses a threat to the country.
Speaking to the local ** in the capital Ankara on Thursday (December 28), Erdogan said: "If terrorism has come to an end in our country today, then our operations in Iraq and Syria are the key reason." ”
According to the Ministry of Defense, Turkey "eliminated" as many as 81 PKK YPG*** last week, including those who crossed the border and hid in northern Iraq and Syria
The latest counter-terrorism operation follows a terrorist attack in northern Iraq last Friday and Saturday that killed 12 Turkish soldiers. Since then, Turkish air strikes have destroyed dozens of terrorist targets in northern Iraq and Syria, as well as "eliminated" high-level ***
"Our red line is to uphold the principle of one nation, one flag, one homeland, one country in all circumstances, because this guarantees the survival of our nation," he added. We continue to operate outside our borders. We don't allow *** to defile our homes with their dirty feet. ”
2,201 *** were eliminated this year
The Turkish authorities use the word "extermination" to imply that the relevant *** surrendered, was killed, or captured.
Turkish spokesman Zeki Akturk told reporters at a briefing in the capital, Ankara, that a total of 2,201 *** had been "wiped out" since January 1.
The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK***) often hides in northern Iraq, plotting cross-border attacks on Turkey. It also has a Syrian branch called the Popular Defence Forces. PKK*** often hides in northern Iraq, planning cross-border attacks against Turkey. Kupkk*** also has a branch in Syria and is called YPG.
Since 2016, Ankara has successfully launched three anti-terrorist operations on the northern border of Syria to prevent the formation of terror corridors and allow residents to resolve them peacefully: Euphrates Shield (2016), Olive Branch (2018) and Peace Spring (2019).
Classified as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union, PKK has killed more than 40,000 people, including women, children and infants, in its 35-year campaign of terror against Turkey. YPG is the Syrian branch of PKK.