Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Sunday reiterated Turkey's firm stance against Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) terrorism in Syria.
Erdoğan, speaking at an inauguration ceremony of the July 15 National Park in Esenler district of Istanbul, said Turkey is burying terrorists inside the trenches that they dig and will continue to do so in the future.
Turkey will soon launch an operation in the east of the Euphrates to liberate the region from the PKK terrorist organization, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced on Wednesday.
A mission east of the Euphrates, which Turkey’s leadership has been suggesting for months, would follow two successful cross-border Turkish operations into Syria since 2016 – Operation Euphrates Shield and Operation Olive Branch – both meant to eradicate the presence of YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists near Turkey’s borders.
Turkish military “neutralized” 10 PKK terrorists in airstrikes carried out in northern Iraq, the Turkish Defense Ministry said on Sunday.Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" in their statements to imply the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.In a Twitter post, the ministry said the airstrikes were carried out in Gara and Hakurk regions on Saturday and Sunday.The terrorists were plotting attack on Turkish bases, the post said.It added that shelters and caves belonging to the terror group were also destroyed in the airstrikes.In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of nearly 40,000 people, including women and children.Turkish army ‘neutralizes’ 20 PKK terrorists in N IraqSyrian opposition backs Turkey’s planned operationYPG/PKK terrorists continue to pose threat to Turkey
Turkish army ‘neutralizes’ 10 PKK terrorists in N Iraq
Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar on Sunday said that Turkey hopes to “completely neutralize” the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terror organization in the close future."The terror group is experiencing serious failure following our decisive fight. Their terror activities have been largely restrained. Hopefully, we will come to a position to completely neutralize them," Hulusi Akar said at an award ceremony in the capital Ankara.Akar said the counter-terror efforts were "necessary and obligatory" for Turkey's security.The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the European Union and the United States. The PKK has been conducting armed violence in the southeastern part of Turkey since 1984. More than 40,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in the three-decade long conflict.He also stressed the importance of protecting Turkey’s rights in Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean.“We will continue to protect our rights and benefits in Aegean, in the Eastern Mediterranean and in ‘blue homeland'," he added.
Turkey hopes to completely wipe out PKK terror group, says DefMin
During his speech, Erdogan also warned opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu against inviting people to hold demonstrations similar to 2013 Gezi Park protests.
“Mr. Kemal, you cannot make anybody to take to the streets. Let me tell you something: Here is neither Paris nor the Netherlands,” he said.
In the summer of 2013, a relatively small demonstration in Istanbul’s Gezi Park grew into a nationwide wave of protests against the government that left eight protesters and a police officer dead.
Since Nov. 17, thousands of protesters wearing bright yellow vests -- dubbed the Yellow Vests -- have been gathering in major French cities, including the capital Paris, to protest Macron's controversial fuel tax hikes and the deteriorating economic situation.
During demonstrations, at least four people have been killed and more than a thousand others wounded.
Also in the Netherlands, Yellow Vest protesters took on Saturday to the streets in 16 cities, including the capital Amsterdam, the Hague and Rotterdam, upon calls made on social media by far-right groups.
They protested against the government's policies on retirement age, costly health and education services and migration issue.