Operation Euphrates Shield

"De facto terrorist statelets" would have emerged across Turkey's southern borders with Iraq and Syria had Ankara not conducted its anti-terror operations in recent years, the spokesman for AKP said on Oct. 28.

The Turkish presidency on Oct. 20 submitted a motion to parliament to extend the state's authority to launch cross-border military operations in northern Iraq and Syria for one more year.

Turkey will do whatever is needed to protect its rights, Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on Oct. 14 over recent attacks of the YPG group against Turkish forces in northern Syria.

Stating that both Russia and United States are responsible for the YPG attacks, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said Turkey would "do what is necessary for its security to clear northern Syria from "terrorists."

The U.S. on Oct. 12 condemned a cross-border attack on Turkish soil and offered condolences for the killings of two Turkish police offers in northern Syria.

The Turkish president on Oct. 11 said his country has run out of patience after the latest deadly attack on its police force in northern Syria and harassment targeting his country's territories.

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's comments came at a news conference following a Cabinet meeting at the Presidential Complex in the capital Ankara.

A Russian national ISIL terrorist, who had been on Interpol's wanted list and was captured in Ankara last week, escaped from a camp in northern Syria, controlled by a U.S-backed terrorist group, Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

The SDF is affiliated with the YPG, which is the Syrian arm of the PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union.

The U.S. administration is not telling the truth while sending letters to Congress or informing its people, Turkey's foreign minister said on Oct. 9 in response to Washington's decision to extend the national emergency executive order in Syria.

Turkish forces "neutralized" six YPG/PKK terrorists in northern Syria, the country's Defense Ministry said on Sept. 25.

In a statement, the ministry said the terrorists were preparing to launch an attack in order to disrupt the environment of peace and security in the Operation Olive Branch zone.

A Turkish soldier died of injuries sustained in Idlib, Syria, Turkey's Defense Ministry said early on Sept. 12.

The soldier was severely wounded on Sept. 11 in the Idlib de-escalation zone but did not survive despite the best efforts of doctors, it said.

It offered condolences to the family of the soldier, the Turkish Armed Forces, and the Turkish nation.