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Terrorist bases destroyed in Turkish army operation in Iraq and Syria — defense minister

Surgical strikes were carried out against the so-called headquarters of the terrorist organization, Hulusi Akar said

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar AP Photo/Virginia Mayo

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar

© AP Photo/Virginia Mayo

ANKARA, November 20. /TASS/. Terrorist headquarters, covers, depots and bases were destroyed in an air operation of the Turkish army in northern Iraq and Syria overnight to Sunday, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar reported.

"Terrorists’ covers, caves, tunnels and warehouses were successfully destroyed. Surgical strikes were carried out against the so-called headquarters of the terrorist organization," Akar said in a video address aired by the TRT TV channel.

""The operation has been successfully completed. Our goal is to ensure the safety of our 85 million citizens and our borders, to eliminate all threats to our country and respond to them accordingly," Akar said, adding that Turkey will continue to fight terrorism until the last terrorist is eliminated.

Akar cited the country’s right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter.

Over 50 aircraft and 20 drones were engaged in the operation overnight to Sunday. The strikes targeted home stations of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and the Syrian People's Protection Units (YPG), which are outlawed in Turkey. Artillery units were involved.

Experts say that the Turkey’s trans-border operation in the north of Iraq and Syria came as a response to the terrorist attack in Istanbul on November 13, in which six people were killed and over 80 were injured. Ankara holds PKK and YPG responsible for the bomb attack.

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