Turkey has 'no eye on any country's land': Military chief

ANKARA

Turkey "has no eye on the territory of any other country" and its cross border operation in Syria is part of the country’s "right to self-defense" said Chief of General Staff Hulusi Akar on Monday.

Speaking at a Veterans' Day ceremony in Ankara, Akar said the Operation Euphrates Shield "is important for the security of our borders and the peace and safety of [Turkish] people and people in neighboring countries."

The operation, which was launched Aug. 24 by Turkey, aims at improving security, supporting coalition forces and eliminating the terror threat along Turkey’s border using Free Syrian Army fighters backed by Turkish armor, artillery and jets.

"Turkey only wants to use its right of self-defense to maintain the security," said Akar, adding that the army would continue to fight until every terrorist in the country is "neutralized".

"As the best example of army-civilian cooperation against all terrorist organizations targeting our national unity and territorial integrity, Turkish Armed Forces which we call 'Prophet's Home' will struggle until there is no terrorist [left] in our homeland," he said.

"The main source of our power and strength is the love and confidence of our nation for us and their [Turkish people] dignity, heroic and devoted stance," Akar added.

*Reporting by Sarp Ozer; Writing by Sibel Ugurlu

ANKARA

Turkey "has no eye on the territory of any other country" and its cross border operation in Syria is part of the country’s "right to self-defense" said Chief of General Staff Hulusi Akar on Monday.

"Turkey only wants to use its right of self-defense to maintain the security," said Akar, adding that the army would continue to fight until every terrorist in the country is "neutralized".

"The main source of our power and strength is the love and confidence of our nation for us and their [Turkish people] dignity, heroic and devoted stance," Akar added.

*Reporting by Sarp Ozer; Writing by Sibel Ugurlu