Turkey’s seven-month operation Euphrates Shield in northern Syria left 67 service personnel martyred, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in a speech to supporters in the southeastern province of Sanliurfa.
More than 500 fighters from the Free Syrian Army, who were supported by the Turkish military as they tackled ISIS and PKK/PYD terrorists during Operation Euphrates Shield, were also martyred.
“These operations will continue if terrorist organizations do not completely withdraw… from our border regions,” Erdogan said.
“Whether its name is ISIS or PKK/PYD, no terrorist organization can be allowed to wave flags right beside our border,” Anadolu Agency cited Erdogan as saying.
The campaign was launched on Aug. 24 2016 with the capture of Jarabulus and was called off on March 29.
