‘Turkey aims complete elimination of terrorist threat'

ADANA, Turkey

Turkey's National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar on Wednesday reiterated the country's determination to abolish terrorist threats at its borders.

“The aim of ‘Operation Claw’ is the complete elimination of the current terrorist threat against our country and borders,” said Akar.

The Turkish Armed Forces launched Operation Claw against the PKK terror group in Hakurk, northern Iraq on Monday.

The military offensive aims to neutralize terrorists in the area. It began with artillery shelling, supported by airstrikes and commando operations.

Akar stressed that terror targets detected in the Qandil and Asos Mountains in northern Iraq have been hit.

So far, 15 terrorists have been neutralized in Hakurk since the operation began on Monday, he added.

According to National Defense Ministry, Turkish commando forces are continuing to designate and destroy weapon emplacements, shelters, and caves used by the PKK.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of nearly 40,000 people, including many women and children.

Akar added that Turkey continues negotiations with Russia in order to ensure stability and declare a ceasefire in Syria’s southern countryside of Idlib.

Turkey and Russia agreed last September to turn Idlib into a de-escalation zone in which acts of aggression would be expressly prohibited.

The Syrian regime, however, has consistently broken the terms of the ceasefire, launching frequent attacks inside the de-escalation zone.

Syria has only just begun to emerge from a devastating conflict that began in early 2011 when the Assad regime cracked down on demonstrators with unexpected severity.

*Writing by Zehra Nur Duz