“Turkey’s fight against terrorism is proceeding in a determined way”

 

Defense minister Hulusi Akar was in the southeast Turkish province of Hakkari to check Turkish troops.

Turkey will end the threat from the YPG/PKK terror group in Syria’s Manbij region and east of the Euphrates when the time comes, the country’s defense minister said late Wednesday.

"Our armed forces prepared well and are continuing to prepare [to hit terror targets in Manbij and east of Euphrates]. Preparations have been made. In the coming period, when the time comes, this YPG threat will be terminated by necessary operations," said Hulusi Akar.

Akar said Turkey’s fight against terrorism is proceeding in a determined way as it wants to close this page once the last terrorist is neutralized by security forces.

"What we do is provide security for our people and borders. We are not eyeing any country’s territory. We respect Syria and Iraq’s territorial and political integrity," Akar said, adding Turkey is planning to conduct a cross-border counter-terror operation as its neighbors in the south, Syria and Iraq, are now unable to do it.

He said it is time to hit terror targets in Manbij and east of the Euphrates following two successful anti-terror operations since 2016 in northwestern Syria -- operation Olive Branch and Euphrates Shield.