President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Turkey remains determined to eradicate terrorism “completely”, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Tuesday.
Speaking at a campaign rally for ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party in northwestern Zonguldak province, Erdogan said: “We are determined to erase terror completely from the agenda of this country.
“We do not expect terrorism to turn up on our doors; we are going to the source of terrorism before it comes to us.”
The president said Turkey’s anti-terror operations over the past two years had weakened terror groups.
Hundreds of terrorists inside and outside of Turkey’s borders had "ceased to be a threat," he added.
The Turkish president also said that after the Afrin operation, Turkey continued to take “necessary steps to defeat other terrorist swamps”.
On March 18, Turkish-backed troops liberated the town center of Afrin in northern Syria, which had been a major hideout for the YPG/PKK terror group since 2012.
The operation was part of Turkey's Operation Olive Branch which was launched in January to clear terrorist groups from the area. After liberating the city of Afrin, Ankara said it might also extend its operation further east to Manbij, unless the YPG/PKK terrorist group leaves the strategically located city.
The environment and urbanization minister said Tuesday that Ankara was rehabilitating over 70,000 houses in southeastern Turkey damaged by the PKK terror group.Speaking at the Anadolu Agency Editors' Desk, Mehmet Özhaseki said 45,000 had been slightly damaged and that reparations had been paid for. Another 26,000 houses were heavily damaged and needed rebuilding."We started [rebuilding] 26,000 houses. We completed most of them, and the construction of some is still continuing," Özhaseki said.He described the interior of the newly rebuilt houses as comfortable.Özhaseki said terror groups like PKK want to establish a terror state in the region but that Turkey cracked down on them decisively.He also thanked the people of southeastern Turkey for not supporting the PKK."They have not agreed with the terrorists, they have not stood by with them," Özhaseki said.The PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- waged a terror campaign against Turkey for more than 30 years and has been responsible for the deaths of nearly 40,000 people, including women and children.More than 1,200 Turkish security personnel and civilians have been killed since July 2015 alone when the group resumed its armed campaign against the country.
Turkish minister: PKK damaged over 70,000 houses in SE
Weapons that were supplied to terrorists from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)’s Syria affiliate, the YPG, will be taken back as part of the Manbij roadmap agreement between the U.S. and Turkey, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said on Tuesday.“The YPG will withdraw from Manbij and security there will be ensured by American and Turkish police force,” said Çavuşoğlu at a press conference.Çavuşoğlu also stressed that once complete, the Manbij model should be applied elsewhere in Raqqa and Kobani.The Turkish FM also revealed that joint work with the U.S. on the roadmap for Syria’s Manbij will start in ten days.Çavuşoğlu pointed that Qandil, a major hideout for PKK terrorists in Iraq, will also be cleared.Çavuşoğlu, however, pointed that joint work with the U.S. in Syria is not an alternative to efforts with Russia.'Expat Syrians can return after Turkey-US Manbij deal'Cavusoglu, Pompeo discuss security of Syria’s ManbijA crucial summit between Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo concluded in Washington on Monday.Çavuşoğlu revealed on his official Twitter account that he and Pompeo discussed the roadmap for northern Syria's Manbij and the conflict in Syria.Çavuşoğlu was quoted as saying that his talks with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo were "very successful," noting that he expected concrete results on PKK/PYD terrorists.The PYD and its military YPG wing are Syrian branches of the PKK, which has waged war against Turkey for more than 30 years. The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the European Union and the United States.
YPG terrorists to be disarmed, withdraw from Manbij: FM Çavuşoğlu
Terrorists to 'pay price'
Erdoğan added the successful anti-terror operations were all conducted despite opposition from Republican People’s Party and its leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu, and its presidential candidate Muharrem Ince.
“We will let all terrorists who are responsible -- especially their ringleaders -- pay the price for murdering the children of this nation over the past 34 years,” he said.
“If needed we will go to Sinjar and do what is necessary,” he added.
In late 2015, Peshmerga forces captured Iraq's Sinjar from the Daesh terrorist group, which had overrun the district a year earlier.
However, PKK elements have also remained in Sinjar since 2014 on the pretext of fighting Daesh.
Erdogan, for his part, has repeatedly said Turkey would not allow Sinjar to become a PKK stronghold.
In its more than 30-year terrorist campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the death of nearly 40,000 people.
More than 1,200 Turkish security personnel and civilians, including women and children, have been killed since July 2015 alone, when the terror group resumed its armed campaign against Turkey.