The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) have completed preparations for the massive retaliation in case of any possible attack carried out against its soldiers by the PKK or groups linked to it in northern Syria.
The issue was discussed at the meeting between President Erdoğan and Donald Trump earlier this week. The Turkish president made it clear that the Turkish forces will not hesitate to intervene if any national security threat was posed by any of the PKK-linked groups in northern Syria.
Later on Thursday, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said the U.S. did not oppose the Turkish officials' statement in Washington, where they detailed the Turkish military's plan to target the PKK's Syrian offshoot, the Democratic Union Party (PYD) and its armed wing, the People's Protection Units (YPG).
According to security sources in the region, both the Land Force and Air Force Commands have prepared an action plan and were ready to base commands near Turkey's southern border.
A large number of armored vehicles were transported to the area while some contingents were stationed closer to the Syrian border. The troops, located on the border where PKK terrorists are thought to be located in northern Iraq and Syria, raised the alert level.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency, security expert Abdullah Ağar said, the TSK is giving a clear message to the PKK and its Syrian offshoots, the PYD and YPG, that they would pay a heavy price in case of any attack on Turkish soldiers.
Underscoring Turkey's decisive stance against terror groups, Ağar reminded of Turkey's early May airstrikes on Karachok and the Sinjar mountains, where the PKK was trying to establishing new headquarters.
During the airstrikes, the TSK announced that the targets were hit to prevent the group from sending terrorists, arms, ammunition and explosives into Turkey. The attacks resulted in the deaths of 89, including four high-level militants.
