'Turkey is determined to press its anti-terror fight'

By Burak Bir

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey is determined to press ahead with its fight against terrorism, said Turkey’s communications director on Friday.

"It is unfortunate for the U.S. policy-makers and politicians to allow themselves to be blackmailed by the lobbyists of a terror organization," Fahrettin Altun wrote in English on Twitter.

He added that countries that forge ties with terrorist groups are responsible for damaging strategic relations with Turkey, their NATO ally.

Turkey has been critical of both the U.S. and France -- both NATO members, like Turkey -- for pursuing ties with the terrorist group YPG/PKK, the target of Turkey's anti-terror Operation Peace Spring.

"Any attempt to stop Turkey’s determination is null and void for us," Altun cited Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as saying, adding that Turkey is resolute to continue its anti-terrorism efforts.

He added that with its anti-terror operations, Turkey provides for the security of both the Turkish people and people around the world.

Launched on Oct. 9, Operation Peace Spring aims to eliminate terrorist YPG/PKK elements from northern Syria east of the Euphrates River in order to secure Turkey’s borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees, and ensure Syria’s territorial integrity.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union -- has been responsible for the deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants. The YPG is the PKK’s Syrian offshoot.

Leaders of the terrorist YPG/PKK have been guests or proposed as guests by officials in both Washington and Paris.