Responding to allegations that the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) hit a U.S. observation point in northern Syria, Defense Minister Hulusi Akar on Friday said that Türkiye would never harm the coalition forces or civilians.
"We have only one target and that is terrorists. Wherever the terrorist is, that is our target. As Türkiye, we never target coalition forces, civilians in northern Syria,” Akar emphasized.
The minister spoke to the press after the ruling Justice and Development Party's (AK Party) Central Decision-Making and Administrative Committee (MKYK) meeting in Ankara.
Touching upon a potential meeting between President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and regime leader Bashar Assad in Syria, the minister said: "There are many developments in this regard. We follow the developments closely."
The defense chief also provided an update on the recently launched Operation Claw-Sword. "We have done and will continue to do whatever it takes to end terrorism and ensure the security of our country, nation and borders,” he noted.
Stating that Operation Claw-Sword, which started with the largest, most comprehensive and most effective air operation in recent history, continues successfully, Akar said, "The operation continues with air and ground fire support vehicles. About 326 terrorists have been eliminated so far in the operation.”
Early Sunday, Türkiye launched Operation Claw-Sword, a cross-border aerial campaign against the PKK terrorist group and its Syrian offshoot, the YPG, which have illegal hideouts across the Iraqi and Syrian borders where they plan attacks on Turkish soil. The country's air operation followed a PKK/YPG terrorist attack on Nov. 13 on Istanbul's crowded Istiklal Street that killed at least six people and left 81 injured.
In addition, Akar also highlighted that Türkiye has become a subject in the international arena under the leadership of President Erdoğan.
"We defend the rights and laws of our country and our nation with policies with personality and identity everywhere. In addition, in the just cases of our brotherly countries such as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Azerbaijan and Libya, we continue to stand by them," the defense chief stressed.
