Turkish Defense Minister: We will not ask for anyone’s permission to conduct an operation near our borders

Turkey will not ask for permission to conduct an anti-terrorist operation near its borders, it will take necessary measures, said Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler.

The Turkish Armed Forces intend to conduct a large-scale ground military operation in northern Iraq against the militants of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party banned in the country, and a corresponding agreement has been reached with the Baghdad administration, the Hurriyet newspaper reported earlier.

“When it comes to the security of our country, we will not ask anyone for anything and will do what is necessary. No one should forget that Turkey is a great state. We have not and will not follow anyone’s order,” Guler told the newspaper, commenting on the possible reaction of the US and Russia to Turkey’s anti-terrorist operation.