Turkey: Top diplomat to brief parliament on Syria op

ANKARA

Turkey’s foreign minister will brief lawmakers in parliament on the country's ongoing anti-terror operation in northern Syria, said a top ruling party official on Monday.

Mevlut Cavusoglu on Wednesday will give the full parliament a 20-minute briefing on Operation Peace Spring, Bulent Turan, deputy chair of the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party, told reporters.

All 82 million people of Turkey “are of one heart. We pray for our soldiers," said Turan.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is also due to address the AK Party’s parliamentary group meeting at 12 noon (0900GMT) on Wednesday.

Turkey on Oct. 9 launched Operation Peace Spring to eliminate terrorists from northern Syria in order to secure Turkey’s borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees, and ensure Syria’s territorial integrity.

Ankara wants to clear northern Syria east of the Euphrates River of the terrorist PKK and its Syrian offshoot, the PYD/YPG.

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