Turkey not to allow 'terror lairs' on southern border: Vice President

ÇORUM- Anadolu Agency

Turkey’s vice president said on Feb. 2 that Ankara would "not allow terrorist lairs" to exist across its southern border, referring to the YPG/PKK in Syria.

"Just as the terrorists in Jarablus and Al Bab could not be escape destruction, the terrorists threatening us on our southern borders will not be able to escape the fate that awaits them," Fuat Oktay said at a meeting with business and non-governmental organizations in the Black Sea town of Çorum.

Praising the progress achieved by Turkey’s defense industry, Oktay underlined that Turkey was at least among the World’s top four countries in the production of surveillance and armed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

He added that Turkey would look to be self-sufficient in its defense hardware.

"We’re engaged in serious efforts regarding warplanes and UAVs," he said.

In recent days, Turkish officials said Turkey has completed all preparations for an operation east of the Euphrates in northern Syria which Ankara said would preserve territorial integrity in the war-torn country.

The PKK is listed as a terrorist group by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union.