Speaking With The Russian Defense Minister, Hulusi Akar Calls Turkey Will Respond To Attacks From North Syria

JAKARTA - Turkey's defense minister has confirmed its country will respond to any attacks from northern Syria while talking by telephone with its Russian counterpart Thursday.

To Sergei Shoigu, Hulusi Akar said Turkey had given the necessary retaliation for rising harassment and attacks aimed at disrupting stability in the region.

"Turkey has provided and will continue to provide necessary responses to harassment and attacks aimed at disrupting stability in the region and also targeting our citizens and civilian settlement areas," Hulusi Akar said, citing Daily Sabah November 24.

Akar further stressed that Ankara's top priority was to permanently prevent the threat and corridor of terrorists, eliminating terrorist organizations in northern Syria along the Turkish border.

The importance of complying with previously reached agreements on the matter is again emphasized among ministers, according to a ministry statement.

On the occasion, Minister Akan Akar expressed satisfaction with the contribution and cooperation shown by Russia, in expanding the Black Sea seed initiative, which has contributed greatly to the solution to the global food crisis.

Turkey launched Operation LAW-Sword on Sunday, a cross-border air campaign against the PKK/YPG terror group, which has illegal hiding places on the border of Iraq and Syria.

Turkish officials stressed that the operation was in line with international law and the state's right to defend itself under UN resolutions.

Separately, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) had destroyed terror dens in operations carried out in northern Iraq and Syria, near the Turkish border.

"Wherever there are terrorists, this country's security organization will be present with police, military and security forces," said President Erdogan.