WATCH: Video in Turkish
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region—Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in his Eid message, vowed to “save Turkey from the terror” of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).
“We are determined to save Turkey from the terror of the PKK, working hand in hand with our security forces and our brothers in the region. PKK, just like FETO, doesn't have the power to fight against the determination and strength of our nation,” he said, comparing the PKK to the Gulen movement, which Turkey calls the Fethullah Terrorist Organization (FETO).
Erdogan added that Kurdish parties in Syria, the Democratic Union Party (PYD) and its armed forces the Peoples Protection Units (YPG), which Ankara considers branches of the PKK, will suffer the same defeat.
“The same ending is awaiting PKK branches in the region, such as the PYD and YPG,” he said.
“Finishing the organisation called Daesh [Islamic State] in Syria as well as disabling it in our country is our obligation to our people,” the president continued.
“Operation Euphrates Shield is the first step to the completion of this duty. Nobody can stop us to do whatever is needed to destroy these organisations, which are threatening the future of our nation, regardless of who might be backing them."
Turkey launched its military operation Euphrates Shield in northern Syria at the end of August with the assistance of local militias fighting under the banner of the Free Syrian Army (FSA). The operation aims to clear ISIS from the Syria-Turkey border areas and to stop Kurdish forces from advancing west of the Euphrates River.
“We are determined to save Turkey from the terror of the PKK, working hand in hand with our security forces and our brothers in the region. PKK, just like FETO, doesn't have the power to fight against the determination and strength of our nation,” he said, comparing the PKK to the Gulen movement, which Turkey calls the Fethullah Terrorist Organization (FETO).
Erdogan added that Kurdish parties in Syria, the Democratic Union Party (PYD) and its armed forces the Peoples Protection Units (YPG), which Ankara considers branches of the PKK, will suffer the same defeat.
“The same ending is awaiting PKK branches in the region, such as the PYD and YPG,” he said.
“Finishing the organisation called Daesh [Islamic State] in Syria as well as disabling it in our country is our obligation to our people,” the president continued.
“Operation Euphrates Shield is the first step to the completion of this duty. Nobody can stop us to do whatever is needed to destroy these organisations, which are threatening the future of our nation, regardless of who might be backing them."
Turkey launched its military operation Euphrates Shield in northern Syria at the end of August with the assistance of local militias fighting under the banner of the Free Syrian Army (FSA). The operation aims to clear ISIS from the Syria-Turkey border areas and to stop Kurdish forces from advancing west of the Euphrates River.
Comments
Rudaw moderates all comments submitted on our website. We welcome comments which are relevant to the article and encourage further discussion about the issues that matter to you. We also welcome constructive criticism about Rudaw.
To be approved for publication, however, your comments must meet our community guidelines.
We will not tolerate the following: profanity, threats, personal attacks, vulgarity, abuse (such as sexism, racism, homophobia or xenophobia), or commercial or personal promotion.
Comments that do not meet our guidelines will be rejected. Comments are not edited – they are either approved or rejected.
Post a comment