Turkish President Erdogan says US uses terror groups in region for security of Israel

By Seda Sevencan, Merve Berker, and Muhammed Enes Calli

ISTANBUL/ANKARA (AA) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that the US uses terrorist organizations in the Middle East for the security of Israel.

"It is now a known fact that the US uses terrorist organizations in the region for its own interests and for the security of Israel," Erdogan told journalists on board the presidential plane returning from Russia after BRICS summit.

He said Türkiye has launched an initiative under the UN to impose comprehensive arms embargo on Israel, as intensified Israeli attacks on Gaza and Lebanon continue to claim hundreds of lives every day.

Erdogan underlined that the number of countries supporting Ankara's call for arms embargo on Israel is growing.

"We hope to succeed in this as Alliance of Humanity and open the door for lasting peace," he added.

About the PKK terror attack on the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) headquarters in the capital Ankara, which killed five people and injured 22 others, he noted that Türkiye continues its efforts to "completely dry up terrorism at its source."

After the attack, the Turkish military and intelligence agency launched airstrikes on PKK/YPG positions in northern Iraq and Syria.

"Terrorists are puppets. Our goal is a Türkiye without terrorism," Erdogan said, and added: "We will not compromise on this."

"PYD/YPG, the Syrian branch of the PKK terror group, destined to be abandoned, left isolated," he added.

The terrorist group that "exploits instability in Syria is wasting its efforts to seek the patronage of certain Western countries," he added.

In its 40-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 over 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.