'Turkey ready for operations on east Euphrates'

By Muhammet Emin Avundukluoglu

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday that they have finished preparations for operations on the eastern side of Euphrates River.

"We will trample terror groups with more effective operations," Erdogan told his Justice and Development Party's parliamentary group.

He said that Turkey would bring down all terror nests on the eastern side of Euphrates.

"We have finished all our preparations, plans, program regarding the issue," he added.

He said that Turkey cannot "look to the future with confidence without solving the Syrian issue".

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