Türkiye conducts ‘most comprehensive’ operation in northern Iraq, Syria

ANKARA (AA) – Türkiye has carried out “the largest and most comprehensive and effective” air operation in Iraq and Syria against militant groups, the nation’s defense minister has announced.

“Operation Claw-Sword, launched on November 19 in northern areas of Iraq and Syria, has been the largest, most comprehensive and most effective air operation against the terrorist organization in the recent period,” Hulusi Akar said during his address in parliament in the capital Ankara.

The operation is targeted against the Kurdish nationalist YPG/PKK which has its presence across the Iraqi and Syrian borders.

Akar said, “For us, there is no ethnic, religious or sectarian discrimination . . . . Our only target is terrorists. Where the terrorist is, there our target is,” he stressed.

He reiterated his appeal to all countries, especially the US, to cut all support to these groups in the name of countering the ISIS.

Since July 24, 2015, a total of 36,854 Kurdish militants have been “neutralized” in Türkiye, northern Iraq and northern Syria, he said. Turkiye uses the word “neutralize” to refer to killing or capture.

Türkiye’s air operation followed the November 13 attack on Istanbul’s crowded Istiklal Avenue that killed six people and left 81 injured.

Akar also accused Greece of collaborating with “terrorist groups”, adding it provides them with all kinds of aid in the Lavrion camp.