AA / Ankara / Utku Simsek
The Turkish Defense Ministry said that the Turkish Armed Forces will continue to take preventive and destructive measures against terrorist organizations, and that Türkiye will cooperate with the new Syrian administration in the fight against terrorism.
During the weekly press briefing held at the ministry on Thursday, Rear Admiral Zeki Aktürk, Advisor for Press and Public Relations of the Ministry of Defense, said that the Turkish Armed Forces continue to carry out uninterrupted operations on the national territory and across borders against all kinds of threats and dangers, in particular the terrorist organizations PKK//PYD-YPG, Daesh and FETO.
Thus, 41 terrorists were neutralized last week and 2,959 terrorists have been neutralized since January 1, including 1,438 in northern Iraq and 1,521 in northern Syria, and 3 other PKK terrorists who fleeing their shelters surrendered at border posts last week, he said.
– Israeli attacks
Rear Admiral Aktürk also made statements regarding Israeli attacks in the region.
“We strongly condemn Israel’s decision to expand illegal settlements in the Golan Heights, which it has occupied since 1967. Israel, which disregards international law in Gaza and the West Bank, is now continuing its illegal activity in Syria and continues its occupation of land,” he denounced.
He continued: “A ceasefire must be declared as soon as possible and regional stability must be ensured. The latest developments in Syria must not obscure the fact that Israel continues to kill women and children in Gaza and continues his massacres.
– Developments in Syria
The rear admiral also provided information on the current situation in Syria.
“The current situation and all developments in Syria, where a new era has begun, are closely monitored, and efforts to ensure the voluntary, safe and dignified return of Syrians continue.
In this context, we once again emphasize that we support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria, that our priority is the elimination of the PKK/YPG terrorist organization, which represents a threat to the security of our country and Syria, that we will continue to take preventive and destructive measures against terrorist organizations, and that we will cooperate with the new Syrian administration in the fight against terrorism,” he said.
He added: “Our measures in the fight against terrorism will continue until the PKK/YPG is disarmed and its foreign fighters leave Syria. We believe that the new Syrian government and its army, the Army Syrian National, will liberate the territories occupied by the PKK/YPG terrorists.
In this context, he rejected statements by the US State Department referring to an alleged ceasefire agreement between Türkiye and the PKK/YPG/SDF in Syria.
“We are not negotiating with any terrorist organization, we think this is a slip of the tongue,” he said.
*Translated from Turkish by Tuncay Çakmak
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