Erdogan blasts US for using terror groups to secure Israel
President Erdogan makes remarks during the meeting with Provincial Heads at the ruling AK Party Headquarters in Ankara, Türkiye on October 22, 2024. (AA Photo)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan claimed Friday that the U.S. employs terrorist organizations in the Middle East to further its own interests and ensure Israel’s security.
“It is now a known fact that the U.S. uses terrorist organizations in the region for its own interests and for the security of Israel,” Erdogan stated to journalists aboard the presidential plane after returning from the BRICS summit in Russia.
Erdogan announced Türkiye’s initiative under the U.N. to impose a comprehensive arms embargo on Israel, amid escalating Israeli attacks on Gaza and Lebanon that are resulting in hundreds of casualties daily. He noted that support for Ankara’s arms embargo proposal is growing among countries.
“We hope to succeed in this as the Alliance of Humanity and open the door for lasting peace,” he added.
‘We will continue to fight terrorism’
In response to a recent PKK terror attack on the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) headquarters in Ankara that killed five and injured 22, Erdogan reiterated Türkiye’s commitment to eradicating terrorism at its source. He confirmed that intelligence and security forces are intensifying their efforts post-attack.
“We will continue our fight against terrorism using all available resources in a multidimensional manner, and we will persist in this effort,” he said. “We will achieve our goal of building a bright, peaceful, and secure Türkiye, free from the dark and bloody shadow of terrorism.”
Erdogan outlined a broad counterterrorism strategy addressing political, social, financial, and external factors contributing to terrorism. Following the TAI attack, Turkish military and intelligence agencies conducted airstrikes on PKK/YPG positions in northern Iraq and Syria.
“Terrorists are puppets. Our goal is a Türkiye without terrorism,” he asserted. “We will not compromise on this.”
He described the PYD/YPG, the Syrian branch of the PKK, as being destined for abandonment and isolation, criticizing the terrorist group for seeking support from certain Western countries amid Syria’s instability.
US support for terrorist organization PKK/YPG
Erdogan remarked on U.S. support for the PKK/YPG, suggesting that while the U.S. may have provided support temporarily, it would ultimately need to sever ties. “The attempts by some Western countries to protect this organization are in vain. This cannot continue indefinitely,” he said.
He noted ongoing discussions regarding a U.S. withdrawal from the region, asserting, “It’s clear from these extended talks that any withdrawal will be tactical, not strategic.”
Erdogan emphasized that U.S. support for Israel includes various forms of military assistance, including equipment and ammunition. He reiterated Türkiye’s commitment to protecting its territory and addressing potential security threats from Syria and elsewhere.
“Our fight against all terrorist organizations in the region is driven by our national interests and border security, and we will continue in this effort,” he concluded.
The PKK, which has waged a 40-year campaign against Türkiye, is listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the U.S., and the EU, and has been responsible for over 40,000 deaths, including women, children, and infants.
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