Turkey continues anti-terror fight at home, abroad

By Diyar Guldogan

ANKARA

Turkey continues its fight against all terror groups both at home and abroad, the national defense minister said on Monday.

"We continue to fight against terrorist organizations and their members, including PKK, YPG, PYD, SDG and Daesh, particularly with the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), both at home and abroad," Hulusi Akar told military students at National Defense University in the capital Ankara.

Akar said Turkey’s fight will "resolutely" continue "until the last terrorist is neutralized".

Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" in their statements to imply that the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.

The minister said there is no difference between PKK and its Syrian affiliate PYD/YPG.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of nearly 40,000 people, including women and children.

Akar also said the army should be "effective, dissuasive and esteemed" not only to deal with the threats but also for Turkey's future.