Global anti-Turkey propaganda will not succeed: Erdogan

By Aynur Ekiz

ANKARA (AA) – President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday said a global anti-Turkey propaganda based on lies would not be successful.

"Launching a worldwide war of propaganda, based on lies, slander and distortion, by those who cannot deal with Turkey on the ground will not work," Erdogan said during a provincial congress by the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party in the southern province of Kahramanmaras.

Supporters of PYD/PKK are involved in a smear campaign against Turkey's ongoing counter-terror operation in Syria through the use of crude photo manipulation and misrepresentation. Social media accounts linked to the terrorist group post morphed photos which are unrelated to the ongoing operation and have actually been taken at another place and time.

On Jan. 20, Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch to clear PYD/PKK and Daesh terrorists from Afrin.

According to the Turkish General Staff, the operation aims to establish security and stability along Turkey’s borders and the region as well as protect Syrians from terrorist oppression and cruelty.

The operation is being carried out under the framework of Turkey's rights based on international law, UN Security Council resolutions, its self-defense rights under the UN charter, and respect for Syria's territorial integrity, it said.

The military also said only terror targets were being destroyed and that "utmost care" was being taken to not harm civilians.