Turkish Military Head Stresses Cooperation On Terrorism

Turkey's military chief on Thursday stressed the importance of countries cooperating to fight terrorism without discriminating between terror groups.



Speaking in Wiesbaden, Germany on the sidelines of a meeting of his European counterparts, Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar emphasized a holistic approach against terrorist groups.



He briefed his counterparts about Turkey's counter-terrorism activities against the Fetullah Terrorist Group (FETO) -- the group behind the 2016 defeated coup -- as well as the PKK/PYD/YPG and Daesh, terrorist groups which threaten both Turkey's and regional security.



In its decades-long terrorist campaign against Turkey, the PKK has taken some 40,000 lives. Turkey continues to fight both the PKK and its Syrian branch, the PKK/PYD/YPG.



Akar also told about Turkey's cross-border operations into Syria, like Operation Euphrates Shield and Operation Olive Branch, both against terrorist groups.



On Jan. 20, Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch to clear YPG/PKK-Daesh terrorists from Afrin, northwestern Syria.



According to the Turkish General Staff, the operation aims to establish security and stability along Turkey's borders and the region as well as to protect Syrians from the oppression and cruelty of terrorists.



The operation is being carried out under the framework of Turkey's rights based on international law, UN Security Council resolutions, its self-defense rights under the UN charter, and respect for Syria's territorial integrity, it said. -