Turkey's top soldier says all militants ‘to pay price’

ANKARA – Anadolu Agency

All militants, including those from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the Syrian Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), will pay the price for “shedding blood,” Turkish Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar said on Jan. 23.

“All terrorists, including Daesh [the Arabic acronym for ISIL], the YPG and the PKK, will get what they deserve and will pay the price for shedding blood,” Akar said in the Turkish capital Ankara.

The army chief’s remarks came during his condolence visit to the home of non-commissioned officer Musa Özalkan, who was martyred on Jan. 22 during clashes with terrorists in “Operation Olive Branch.”

Akar said members of the Turkish Armed Forces would continue the fight against terrorism in Syria, despite the weather conditions.

Turkey launched “Operation Olive Branch” on Jan. 20 to clear YPG militants from the city of Afrin in northwestern Syria.