“They want to sever us from our sisters and brothers by forming a terror corridor along our borders [with Syria]. They do not hesitate to link arms with terrorist organizations. They are not aware of the fact that we will break the arms and wings of the [terrorist] structure they have been striving to form and destroy it completely. We believe we will sooner or later bring down the terrorist organizations and those who are behind them. We believe: 'Unquestionably, the help of Allah is near," Erdogan said, Yenisafak reported.
"Yesterday was a Friday and our soldiers prayed Friday prayer together on the front. This is the resurrection of a nation out of its ashes. Turkey will hold them to account. We all see who destroyed the world when we look around us. It’s our nation’s and state’s duty to stop this crooked system," he added.
“Those who cannot deal with Turkey in the field run worldwide anti-Turkey propaganda based on lies, smears, and perversion. It will not work. Those lies will melt away in the face of the truth just as a block of ice melts away under the sun. Today, we have a new Turkey, a country which goes beyond its borders to destroy any threat no matter where it stems from,” the Turkish leader stressed.
Since the launch of Turkey's Afrin operation, the PYD/PKK terrorist organization and its supporters have engaged in a smear campaign against the counterterrorism move.
Operation Olive Branch was initiated on January 20 in Afrin to establish security and stability, eliminate terrorists of PKK/KCK/PYD-YPG and Daesh, and save locals from the terrorists’ oppression and cruelty.
Before his speech at the 6th Provincial Congress of the AK Party, Erdogan addressed the people of Turkey’s Kahramanmaras province.
“We [Turkey] have a responsibility to protect our 911-kilometer border. Nobody can question why we are protecting our borders, and we will continue to do so. We will continue to hold those who attack [Turkey] to account. Nobody should forget that this nation, this country and our soldiers are not an army of cowards. We are not a nation of cowards,” Erdogan said.
“I saw our soldiers praying Friday prayer together yesterday. Some people say ‘They strike civilians’. Those who make such claims are unscrupulous, shameless and immoral! It’s not in our blood to strike civilians, but it’s in your blood!” he added.