Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said that Turkey will continue its military and political operations to thwart any threat to its security present at the country’s southern borders with Syria and Iraq.
Akar confirmed that Turkey will continue its efforts both in the field on an operational basis against whom he labeled “terrorists” in north Syria Manbij city and East Euphrates River. Akar’s remarks came during his meeting with commandos on ground zero at Turkish-Iraqi border.
The Turkish Defense Minister stressed that Turkey will never allow a “fait accompli” in the region, and that it will take all necessary measures to push back against such an outcome.
“There is no salvation for the terrorists and their supporters because our struggle against them will continue,” Akar said, pointing out that Turkey continues its presence on the ground in terms of operations and on the table in terms of diplomacy.
Akar added that Ankara is in talks with Russia and the United States on developments in the region, stressing Turkey's respect for the territorial integrity of its neighbors.
A delegation from the Turkish defense and foreign ministries had discussed in Moscow rising violence and takeover of extremist militias in Idlib, political processes in Syria, the planned US withdrawal and the creation of a north Syria safe zone proposed by Washington.
In the meantime, Turkey has established field hospitals alongside borders border with Syria, the first of which in Gaziantep at the customs gate opposite to the Syrian side.
Turkish medical rescue teams are currently operating in near-border provinces of Gaziantep and Hatay, set up a field hospital at the customs gate, superintended by the Turkish Ministry of Health.
The state-run Anatolia news agency said that the medical tents would be completed and fully equipped within two days.
The establishment of these hospitals coincides with moves by Turkey over a possible military operation into Syria’s east Euphrates region, controlled by the US-backed Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces, which Ankara views as a terror group.
In recent weeks, the Turkish army has been beefing up heavy reinforcements of vehicles, soldiers and special forces into Hatay on the border of Syria’s Idlib province.
