Turkish opposition party to back anti-terror operations

By Muhammet Emin Avundukluoglu

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey's opposition Good (IYI) Party leader said on Tuesday that they would support all counter-terror operations along Turkey's southeastern borders.

"As IYI Party, no matter in eastern or western Euphrates, we will support the razing of all terror groups along our borders," Meral Aksener told her party's parliamentary group.

"Whatever is necessary should be done. A ground operation should also be carried out, if it’s necessary," she added.

Aksener also criticized the U.S. decision to put multi-million-dollar bounties on the heads of three key PKK terrorists, calling the move an effort to “legalize PKK’s Syrian branch, YPG.”

On Nov. 6, the U.S. State Department put a bounty on three key PKK terrorists.

Under the Rewards for Justice program, people who give information on the identification or location of PKK terrorists Murat Karayilan, Cemil Bayik, and Duran Kalkan are eligible for rewards of $3-5 million.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the death of some 40,000 people, including those of women and children. The YPG is its Syrian branch.