Speaker: Turkey's fight against terrorism to continue

By Muhammet Emin Avundukluoglu

ANKARA (AA) - The Turkish parliament speaker said on Friday that Turkey's fight against terrorism would continue as long as it harms the country.

"Our aim is to protect our country's [southern] borders and our nation against any missile attack," said Binali Yildirim to reporters before his official visit to Switzerland.

"Our fight [against terrorism] will continue as long as terror harms our nation both from the Syrian territory, or Iraq, or from the eastern or western side of Euphrates," he added.

Yildirim also recalled that the U.S. armed the PKK-affiliated YPG terrorist group "under the [pretext] of fighting Daesh".

"These weapons are now used by the PKK against civilians and soldiers that are also used in every terror attack," he said.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK has taken 40,000 lives, including many women and children. The YPG is its Syrian branch.