ANKARA, November 13. /TASS/. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he does not rule out conducting cross-border operations in northern Syria to complete the creation of a 30-kilometer security zone.

"Cross-border operations are always on the agenda to ensure the security of our country and the peace of mind of our citizens. If we feel threatened, we are prepared to launch cross-border operations at any moment. No one should doubt our respect for Syria's territorial integrity. However, there is complete instability in northern Syria," the Turkish leader stated, as quoted by the TRT Haber TV channel.

Erdogan stated that instability in neighboring Syria and the presence of terrorist organizations there pose a threat to Turkey's security. "The goal of all our operations against terrorist groups such as the Islamic State (IS, banned in Russia) and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK, banned in Turkey) is to ensure our own security. The actions we take from now on will be focused on that objective. There are still terrorist-controlled areas along our borders, which pose a security risk. It is impossible to fully secure the borders without clearing these areas and eliminating the terrorist threat," the Turkish president said.

Erdogan has repeatedly announced plans to complete a 30-kilometer security zone in northern Syria to secure a 600-kilometer stretch of the border and minimize terrorist threats from the area. The Turkish authorities regard the PKK as the primary threat to national security.