'Turkey's fight not against Kurds but terrorists'

By Sarp Ozer

ANKARA

Turkey's fight in the region is not against Kurds but against PKK/YPG and Daesh terrorists, National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on Monday, pushing back a U.S. misconception.

"The fight of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) is not against our Kurdish brothers with whom we have shared the same geography and the same bread for centuries.

"Our struggle in the region are against the PKK/YPG and Daesh terrorists that threaten all ethnic and religious groups, particularly our Kurdish, Arab, and Turkmen brothers," Akar told Anadolu Agency.

Akar's remarks came a day after U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton said the U.S. will not withdraw troops from northeastern Syria unless the Turkish government guarantees it won’t attack “Kurdish fighters,” referring to YPG/PKK terrorist group.

The terrorist PKK/YPG can never be the representatives of the Kurdish people, stressed Akar.

"This terrorist group both poses a threat to regional security and stability, and prevents Syrian refugees, particularly Kurds, from returning to their territories," he added.

In its 30-year terrorist campaign, the PKK has taken some 40,000 lives. The PKK/YPG is its Syrian branch.

Turkey has said it is planning a counter-terrorist operation into Syria targeting the PKK/YPG, following two successful operations since 2016

Also rebuffing Bolton's remarks, Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin on Sunday called claims that Turkey targets Kurds “irrational,” as the country is fighting Daesh and PKK/PYD/YPG terrorists.