Fighting Daesh 'cornerstone' of Turkey’s operations

ANKARA

The fight against the Daesh terrorist group, also known as ISIS, is a "cornerstone" of Turkey’s anti-terror operations in Syria, Turkey’s director of communications said on Sunday.

"We will continue to hunt down and bring to justice all Daesh terrorists, including those that the terrorist organization PKK/YPG released from prisons in recent weeks," Fahrettin Altun said on Twitter.

"We will cooperate with source countries to ensure the repatriation of foreign terrorist fighters that joined Daesh," he added.

Altun highlighted Turkey’s cooperation with its "friends" and "allies" against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. "It’s time to eliminate all the remaining terrorist leaders," he said.

More than 300 people have been killed in attacks claimed by Daesh in Turkey, where the terrorist organization has targeted civilians in suicide bombings and armed attacks in recent years.

Turkish security forces have been involved in a long-running campaign to thwart Daesh attacks.

Since 2016, Turkey has conducted three successful operations in northern Syria against the terrorist YPG/PKK and Daesh: Operation Euphrates Shield (2016-17), Operation Olive Branch (2018), and Operation Peace Spring (launched on Oct. 9).

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. The YPG is the Syrian offshoot of the PKK.