Erdoğan pledges resolute fight against terrorism until threat fully eradicated

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reaffirmed Türkiye's unwavering commitment to combating terrorism, vowing to continue the fight until the threat is fully eradicated.

In a speech delivered at the Gendarmerie and Coast Guard Academy Graduation Ceremony in Ankara, Erdoğan stated, "We will continue our fight with determination and resolve until we eliminate terrorism as a source of threat to our country." 

"Going back from this point is absolutely out of the question," he added.

Erdoğan highlighted that Türkiye's principled and courageous stance on the global stage is largely attributed to the significant security achievements made over the past 22 years. He noted considerable progress in combating the separatist terrorist organization responsible for unrest in the nation for four decades.

His comments coincided with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Türkiye and Iraq, which focuses on cooperation in security, military, and counterterrorism amid a growing awareness of the PKK terror group's activities in Iraq.

Last week, Türkiye's security forces have "neutralized" 73 terrorists, including those operating across the border in northern Iraq and Syria, Turkish Defense Ministry reported on Thursday.

The PKK, designated as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the United States, and the European Union, has waged a nearly 40-year terror campaign against Türkiye, resulting in the deaths of more than 40,000 individuals, including women and children.