UPDATE 2 - Türkiye is never complacent about eliminating terrorist threats at their source: President Erdogan

UPDATES WITH MORE DETAILS

By Serdar Dincel, Muhammed Enes Calli and Gizem Nisa Cebi

ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday said Türkiye is never complacent about eliminating terrorist threats at their source.

”Whether it is within our borders or beyond, no one can prevent us from eliminating any threat we detect against our country," Erdogan said at the delivery ceremony of the T625 Gokbey Helicopter at the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) headquarters in Ankara, which was attacked by terrorists last week claiming five lives.

Gokbey, the domestically designed and manufactured Turkish utility helicopter, was delivered to the Turkish Gendarmerie.

Produced by TAI, the helicopter features locally developed avionics and engines.

Erdogan said terrorist attacks like the one on TAI headquarters can never break Türkiye's resolve and determination to fight terrorism.

Calling the PKK terrorist organization's attack on TAI as the "last efforts of the separatist organization," he affirmed that terror has no place in the future of Türkiye and the region.

Erdogan said Türkiye has strengthened the security of its border with Iraq thanks to the Operation Claw-Lock.

The PKK is known for using northern Iraq, near the Turkish border, as a hideout to plot terror attacks on Türkiye.

Türkiye launched Operation Claw-Lock in April 2022 to target the PKK terror organization's hideouts in northern Iraq's Metina, Zap, and Avasin-Basyan regions.

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.

Commenting on Türkiye's defense industry, the Turkish president said "we have become a self-sufficient country in this field, with over a thousand domestic defense industry projects and a $100 billion project portfolio."

"Today, the importance of our layered air defense systems for our security is much more appreciated," he added.

He said Türkiye is the world's largest manufacturer in the UAV market, and Turkish companies realized 65% of armed drone sales worldwide since 2018.

"If they have Iron Dome, we will have Steel Dome," he said, adding that Türkiye will also enhance its long-range missile capabilities.

"Until we realize our dream of becoming a fully independent Türkiye in the defense industry, we will not stop or rest," the Turkish president asserted. "We will work harder in defiance of traitors; we will produce more in defiance of scoundrels; we will develop more in defiance of imperialists."