Turkish Defence Ministry: PKK and YPG pose persistent threat VIDEO

The PKK terrorist group, its Syrian offshoot YPG, and ISIS continue to pose a threat to Türkiye’s borders and Syria's territorial integrity, and therefore remain legitimate targets for Türkiye, said Turkish Defence Ministry spokesperson Zeki Aktürk on X.

According to Aktürk, Türkiye has repeatedly called for the dissolution of the YPG following the fall of Bashar al-Assad last month, Caliber.Az reports.

Millî Savunma Bakanlığının faaliyetleri başta olmak üzere gündemdeki konulara ilişkin olarak Haftalık Basın Bilgilendirme Toplantısı gerçekleştirildi.

Basın ve Halkla İlişkiler Müşaviri ve Bakanlık Sözcüsü Tuğamiral Zeki Aktürk tarafından icra edilen toplantıda şu bilgiler… pic.twitter.com/6GrygSC8BX

— T.C. Millî Savunma Bakanlığı (@tcsavunma) January 16, 2025

Ankara considers the group, which the United States regards as an ally in the coalition against ISIS, to be an extension of the PKK terrorist organization.

The PKK's violence, which has spread beyond Türkiye into Iraq and Syria, has claimed tens of thousands of lives. Since 2016, Ankara has conducted numerous operations targeting the PKK/YPG in Syria.

It also maintains dozens of military bases in Iraq, with its airstrikes frequently targeting terrorist hideouts.

Türkiye has asserted that the new Syrian administration should be empowered to address the issue of YPG presence. However, it has also warned of a potential new cross-border operation against PKK/YPG terrorists based in northeastern Syria if its demands are not met.

By Aghakazim Guliyev