SANLIURFA, Turkey

Turkey's defense minister inspected troops deployed along the country's border with Syria, the National Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.

In a statement, the ministry said Hulusi Akar was accompanied by Turkish Chief of General Staff Yasar Guler and the commanders-in-chief of the armed forces at the southeastern Sanliurfa province.

Akar met soldiers and inquired about operation zones across the border and activities on the border line.

Stating that the Turkish Armed Forces have successfully carried out major operations in northern Iraq and the north of Syria, Akar said the struggle would continue until the last terrorist is neutralized.

Since 2016, Turkey has launched a trio of successful anti-terror operations across its border in northern Syria to prevent the formation of a terror corridor and to enable the peaceful settlement of residents: Euphrates Shield (2016), Olive Branch (2018), and Peace Spring (2019).