ANKARA
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed Ankara's "anti-terror operations" with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on the phone on Wednesday, Turkish presidential sources said.
Instability in Syria and Iraq affects neighboring countries and Turkey cannot remain unresponsive against terrorist threats targeting Turkey's national security, Erdogan reportedly told Rouhani.
He also underlined that Turkey used its international rights on July 29 against the terrorist attacks as defined by the Article 51 of the U.N. Charter, which allows countries to engage in self-defense against an armed attack. Erdogan added that U.N. Security Council members and NATO Council were informed about the operations.
Rouhani reportedly expressed his deep sorrow due to the loss of lives during terrorist attacks and offered his condolences to the Turkish people.
The two leaders also handled regional issues during the phone call.
Turkey has launched an anti-terror crackdown after the July 20 Suruc bombing that killed 32 activists and the attacks on security forces in the following days.
Ankara has detained more than 1,300 suspected supporters of groups such as Daesh and PKK -- recognized as terrorist groups by Turkey, the EU and the U.S. -- as well as launching airstrikes in Daesh in Syria and the PKK in Turkey and northern Iraq.
Additionally, Turkey has increased its support for an international anti-Daesh coalition led by the U.S., opening its Incirlik air base to coalition aircraft for military operations against the terrorist organization.
