Turkish military will not hesitate to strike PYD targets in Syria if it threatens Turkish security, PM Davutoğlu says
Pirme Minister Ahmet Davuoğlu said on Saturday that if the Syrian Democratic Union Party (PYD), terrorist group makes any threat to Turkish security, Turkish military forces will hit the group without any hesitation.
“We will hit them as we hit Qandil," Davutoğlu said in Erzincan, indicating Turkish military airstrikes on Mount Qandil in northern Iraq, the stronghold of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) terrorist group.
Dautoğlu reiterated that the PYD and PKK are same terrorist organization and Turkey will treat them as terror groups.
“PYD is a Syrian affiliate of PKK terror group. Both are trained by Qandil," he said, adding that the PYD hung a giant portrait of the PKK's jailed leader, Abdullah Öcalan, in its newly-opened representative office in Moscow.
PYD has been attacking Syrian civilians along with Russian and Syrian military in northern part of Syria near the Turkish border as the terrorist group aims to change the demographics in the region to establish long-term control.
Davutoğlu said the mass killing by PYD was well-documented and Turkey will not show any mercy to the group if it threatens Turkish territorial safety and security.
"The documents are all in the open. The international organizations have also documented these. We are expecting the US, whom we believe to be our ally, to show an explicit and clear stance against this inhumane massacre," he added.
“If there is a threat against Turkey, we will strike PYD as we did in Qandil," the premier said.
Davuotğlu said the terror group is in cooperation with Russia and Assad “and is attacking Turkmens" in northwestern province of Latakia.
"Those who say the PYD is not a terrorist organization either do not know the region, or are ill-intentioned," Davutoğlu said, criticizing the recent US statement that it does not recognize the group as a terror organization.
Davutoğlu calls Turkey's international allies to support Turkish stance against the PYD as they support Ankara against the PKK.
“We would like to see our allies stand by us," Davutoğlu said.
