Türkiye prepared for cross-border operations to tackle terrorist threats, Erdogan says

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reaffirmed Türkiye's commitment to securing its borders and ensuring the safety of its citizens, stating that cross-border operations are a key priority for national security.

Speaking to journalists during his return from Azerbaijan onboard a plane, Erdogan emphasized that Türkiye is prepared to take immediate action if it feels threatened by instability in northern Syria, where terrorist organizations are exploiting the chaos, Caliber.Az reports, citing Turkish media.

"If we feel threatened, we are ready to launch cross-border operations at any time. No one should doubt our respect for the territorial integrity of Syria. But there is complete instability in northern Syria. This creates a favourable environment for terrorist organizations that can feed on the chaos in this region and gain a foothold there," the Turkish leader said.

According to him, instability in Syria and the presence of terrorist organizations there pose a security threat to Türkiye.

"The goal of all our operations against ISIS and PKK/YPG is to ensure our own security. The steps we will take from now on will be precisely for this purpose. There are still areas on our borders where terrorists are gaining a foothold, and this poses a threat to our security,” the head of state noted.

Erdogan added that achieving full security is not possible without completely eliminating terrorist strongholds and eradicating the root causes of terrorism.

By Khagan Isayev