Turkey’s top soldier pays Eid visit to border posts in Gaziantep

Accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Veysi Kaynak, ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Secretary-General Abdulhamit Gül, Gaziantep Governor Ali Yerlikaya and force commanders, Akar visited the Köprübatı and Soylu military posts in the district on the Syrian border.

He celebrated the Eid al-Adha holiday with soldiers at a breakfast and congratulated those who participated in the Euphrates Shield Operation in Syria, launched on Aug. 24 to sweep the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) jihadist group and other terrorist elements from the Turkey’s border.

Addressing the soldiers, Akar stressed it was the country’s legitimate struggle to protect its borders and unity as well as self-defense with the joint Euphrates operation.

“We are using our right to self-defense here. The entire world knows this. Some ignore or play ignorant about it. They do not reflect the truth. We can explain all steps we take, all pages and all sentences here. It is in line with humanity, law, our history and culture and we are blameless,” Akar said.

He also expressed his anticipation that innocent people living in both Turkey and Syria would be provided with a deserved peaceful and secure environment in the region at the conclusion of the operation.