Hulusi Akar

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar has indicated that the cross-border Operation Claw-Lock that started on April 18 against the PKK targets in northern Iraq became a harsh blow to the terrorist organization.

"There are signs of downfall in terrorist organizations. There is fear and panic in terrorists," Akar said, speaking in the southeastern province of Şanlıurfa on May 2.

Some 19 PKK terrorists have been neutralized in the regions of the Operation Olive Branch and Operation Peace Spring, the Turkish Defense Ministry has said.

Posting a tweet about the latest operations against the terror organization, the ministry said, "Sixteen in the Operation Olive Branch zone and three in the Operation Peace Spring have been neutralized."

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar has said the country is determined to put an end to the PKK terrorist organization, while highlighting that some 57 terrorists have been neutralized during the latest anti-terror operation Claw-Lock.

Despite mounting difficulties and growing concerns over the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, Turkey is still hopeful of a summit between Russian and Ukrainian leaders as a result of the continued mediation efforts by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Turkey's defense minister has said. 

The third countries, particularly the NATO allies, should better not demand to send their warships to the Black Sea during the war between Ukraine and Russia, the Turkish defense minister has said, warning them not to turn the Black Sea into an area of competition.

Defense Minister Hulusi Akar on April 21 called on Greece for better relations but said Athens is acting slowly to respond to "the hand Turkey extended for friendship."

The PKK terrorist organization has come to the brink of collapse thanks to the Turkish army's continued military operations, Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on April 19, while vowing that the anti-terror fight will endure determinately.

The Turkish army has launched a major offensive against PKK hideouts and targets in northern Iraq in a bid to destroy the terror organization's capacity to attack Turkey in the coming months, the Defense Ministry has announced, informing that many terrorists were neutralized and their structures were hit as a preliminary result of the military operation.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had iftar dinner with soldiers in Yüksekova district of southeastern Hakkari province on April 13.

The president, accompanied by Defense Minister Hulusi Akar and the Turkish Armed Forces command, visited the 3rd Infantry Division Command in the Yüksekova district of Hakkari.

The Turkish army is continuing to stay vigilant against the naval mines in the Black Sea, the defense minister has said, stressing that marine traffic through the Bosporus is not affected by the drifting sea mines and runs as usual.