Erdogan: Türkiye to launch Syria ground operation against terrorists "when convenient"

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Türkiye's air operation in northern Iraq and Syria to clear the regions of terrorists is "just the beginning", the country will launch a ground operation in Syria "when convenient".

"Our operations with aircraft, artillery, and UCAVs (unmanned combat aerial vehicles) are just the beginning," Erdogan told the Justice and Development (AK) Party group meeting in the capital Ankara, Anadolu Agency reports.

On November 20, Türkiye launched Operation Claw-Sword, a cross-border aerial campaign against the terror group YPG/PKK which has illegal hideouts across the Iraqi and Syrian borders where they plan attacks on Turkish soil.

The country's air operation followed a YPG/PKK terror attack on Nov. 13 on Istanbul's crowded Istiklal Avenue that killed six people and left 81 injured.

"We will come down hard on the terrorists with a land operation at the most convenient time," Erdogan said.

He stressed that Türkiye is more determined than ever to secure its southern border.

Türkiye has remained faithful to its promises regarding the borders of Syria, Erdogan added, saying: "If our interlocutors cannot fulfill the requirements of the agreement, we have the right to take care of ourselves."

Earlier, the Turkish National Defence Ministry reported that the army struck 471 terrorist targets [in northern Syria and Iraq] and neutralised at least 254 fighters from the Syrian wing of the terrorist organisation PKK/YPG.