Erdoğan says Turkey will not back down from Syria op until 'ultimate victory'

Turkey will not back down from its military operation in Syria, regardless of what anyone may say, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Monday.

Speaking at a summit of the Turkic Council in Azerbaijan, Erdoğan criticized the EU and Arab League for condemning Turkey's intervention against YPG terrorists, saying: "Since when has a terror group been defended against a NATO member? Have these terror groups been given NATO membership?"

"We are determined to continue the operation until the end, without paying attention to threats. We will absolutely finish the job we started. Our battle will continue until ultimate victory is achieved," he added.

On Oct. 9, Turkey launched Operation Peace Spring to eliminate terrorists from northern Syria in order to secure Turkey’s borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees, and ensure Syria’s territorial integrity.

Ankara wants to clear northern Syria east of the Euphrates River of the terrorist PKK and its Syrian offshoot, the 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 European Union -- has been responsible for deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.