Türkiye never to allow ‘terror corridor’ on border: Defense chief

ANKARA (AA) – Türkiye will never allow the emergence of a “terror corridor” on its border, the country’s national defense minister has said, referring to groups such as ISIS and PKK/YPG.

“We will never in any way allow the formation of a terror corridor or the activity of terrorists” on Türkiye’s southern border, Hulusi Akar said.

A total of 491 terrorists have been “neutralized” so far in Türkiye’s ongoing cross-border campaign against the PKK/YPG, he said, adding that only “terrorist organizations” were targeted in the operation.

The word “neutralize” implies killing, surrender or arrest of Kurdish nationalist fighters by Turkish security forces.

Recently, Türkiye launched Operation Claw-Sword in northern Iraq and Syria, a cross-border aerial campaign against the PKK/YPG, which has bases across the Iraqi and Syrian borders which is considered a mortal threat by Turkiye.