Turkish president vows to eliminate PKK, secure peace across region

Türkiye’s sole aim is to ensure peace, tranquility, and stability throughout its region, starting with Syria, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated during a meeting of the Justice and Development (AK) Party.

“We are delighted whenever we see the free Syrian flag alongside our own crescent and star flag in (the Syrian cities of) Aleppo, Damascus, Hama, Homs, Daraa, and Manbij,” Erdogan said, Caliber.Az reports citing Turkish media.

“We will eliminate the terrorist organization (PKK) as it tries to build a wall of blood between us and our Kurdish sisters and brothers,” he added, referring to a terrorist group, present in both Syria and Iraq, whose decades-long campaign against Türkiye has killed some 40,000 people.

Erdogan emphasized that Türkiye would reach its goal of becoming free from terrorism in the near future by deploying all the tools at the state's disposal.

The PKK, recognized as a terrorist group by Türkiye, the US, and the EU, has been responsible for more than 40,000 deaths in its 40-year campaign against Türkiye, targeting civilians, including women, children, and the elderly. The YPG, which operates in Syria, is the PKK’s Syrian affiliate.

The PKK/YPG has sought to exploit the chaos following the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, intensifying efforts to create a “terrorist corridor” along Türkiye’s border.

Syrian leader Bashar Assad, who had ruled for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia after anti-regime forces seized control of Damascus on December 8, effectively ending the Baath Party’s rule that had lasted since 1963. This takeover followed a rapid offensive by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham fighters, who captured key cities in less than two weeks.

By Vafa Guliyeva