The Turkish Defense Ministry announced on Sunday the launch of the “Sword Claw” air operation in northern Iraq and Syria, accusing these regions of being “used as bases by Kurdish terrorists.”
“The planes have taken off from their bases, the air operation has started,” the ministry said in a statement, a week after the deadly attack that struck a shopping street in the heart of Istanbul.
“Eliminate Terrorist Attacks”
The operation was carried out “in accordance with the rights of self-defense under Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, in order to eliminate terrorist attacks from northern Iraq and Syria, to ensure the security of the borders and eliminate terrorism at its source”. he said.
At night, on Twitter, the ministry had launched: “The time for reckoning has arrived! The bastards will have to answer for their treacherous attacks”, after the attack that on November 13 left six dead and 81 wounded in the heart. Istanbul.
“Nests of terror are laid waste by precision strikes,” he added without elaborating on the targets.
Kurdish organs noted
The authorities immediately designated the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and the YPG (People’s Protection Units), a Kurdish militia active in Syria, accused by Turkey of being affiliated with the PKK.
According to the statement, Defense Minister Hulusi Akar “directed and managed Operation Sword Claw (…) from the air force operations center.”
Source: BFM TV
