UPDATES WITH MORE REMARKS FROM TURKISH PRESIDENT
By Esra Tekin
ISTANBUL (AA) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday reiterated Türkiye’s determination in the fight against terrorism, stating the country will eventually eradicate “the roots” of terrorists.
“We will eventually, but certainly, eradicate the roots of the hired killer hordes acting as the henchmen of imperialists,” Recep Tayyip Erdogan said during a meeting held in Türkiye’s Elazig province.
Erdogan said that wherever there is a terrorist within or outside its borders, Türkiye attacks them, and added that peace and security now prevail in places that were known for many years for terrorist conflicts.
“In the mountains like Cudi, where terrorists once roamed freely, and in our plateaus, tourists from different corners of our country and the world now explore it fearlessly. We have entered every place deemed impassable, and cleared them all,” he added.
“Some had dreams of establishing a Terroristan for a separatist organization in Syria. With the operations we have conducted, we have destroyed these plans,” Erdogan said.
In the same way, he said, counter-terrorism operations are progressing successfully “in line with our objectives.”
“We hold accountable those who, relying on their Western masters, cast greedy eyes on our lands and attempt to divide us, with a reckoning proportional to their actions. We will continue to do so,” Erdogan said.
"When it comes to the survival of our homeland, the integrity of our state, and the peace and security of our people, we do not turn a blind eye to anyone,” he added.
On Monday, Erdogan had said: “We're ready to bring new nightmares to those who think they can bring Türkiye to its knees with a terrorist formation along its southern borders,” after chairing a Cabinet meeting in the capital Ankara, referring principally to the terrorist group PKK, based across the border in northern Iraq, and its Syrian offshoot, the YPG/PKK.
In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the US and EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of more than 40,000 people, including women, children and infants. The YPG is the PKK’s Syrian offshoot.