UPDATE - Turkey nearing its goals through pact with US: Official

REVISES DECK, ADDS VICE PRESIDENT'S COMMENTS

By Rabia Iclal Turan

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey has taken an important step towards achieving the main goals of Operation Peace Spring through its agreement with the U.S., a Turkish official said Friday.

“With this agreement, Turkey has taken an important step towards achieving the primary goals of the operation rapidly, namely clearing our border from terrorists and establishing a safe zone, thanks to the strong leadership of our President and the success of TAF on the ground,” Communications Director Fahrettin Altun wrote on Twitter, referring to the Turkish Armed Forces.

“This agreement has demonstrated once again that joint action is required against all kinds of terror and one terrorist organization should never be preferred over another,” he added.

Vice President Fuat Oktay also hailed the agreement on Twitter.

"With its strength in the field, strategy on the table and our leader's firm stance, Turkey has won," he wrote.

Turkey launched Operation Peace Spring on Oct. 9 to eliminate terrorists from northern Syria in order to secure Turkey’s borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees and ensure Syria’s territorial integrity.

Ankara wants to clear northern Syria east of the Euphrates River of the terrorist PKK and its Syrian offshoot, the PYD/YPG.

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 deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.