Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hinted this week that Ankara is considering escalating its military operations in neighboring Iraq and Syria in the name of national security.
Hurriyet Daily News reports that during a reception at the Presidential Palace in Ankara marking Turkey’s annual “Victory Day,” President Erdogan declared:
Despite the covert embargoes and strikes on our country and our army by the hand of [the Fethullah Terrorist Organization] FETO, and the problems with our allies, there is no falling back in our plans, projects, and operations. Especially in Syria and Iraq, we will not take a step back on any subject related to future of our nation and our brothers in the region. All options in the region are being taken into consideration.
“Everyone should know that we will prevail in this situation,” vowed President Erdogan.
Shiite-led Baghdad has repeatedly urged predominantly Sunni Turkey to leave Iraq, even threatening last November to “dismantle” Turkish troops if they do not withdraw. READ MORE
