President Erdogan says terror attacks can't stop Türkiye's progress

ISTANBUL

Terror attacks would not be able to stop Türkiye's advance, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday.

Speaking at a science awards ceremony in the capital Ankara, Erdogan said: "I want it to be known that the heinous terrorist attacks, aimed at stifling Türkiye's rise, will never be able to derail our holy march."

"I have no doubt that this century we are in will be the era of our nation and our state."

Recalling that 12 Turkish soldiers were killed in a PKK terrorist attack last week, Erdogan said in just 36 hours Türkiye targeted a total of 54 terrorists, adding that "the blood of martyrs" will not go in vain.

Türkiye carried out air operations on 71 targets in northern Iraq and Syria, the Turkish Defense Ministry said in an earlier statement.

PKK terrorists often hide out in northern Iraq to plot cross-border attacks in Türkiye. It also has a Syrian branch, known as the YPG.

In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK — listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the US, and EU — has been responsible for the deaths of more than 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.​​​​​​​