Turkey to keep fighting terrorists in N Iraq: Minister

By Kemal Karadag </p> <p>ANKARA (AA) – Turkey will continue to fight terrorists in northern Iraq, Turkey’s Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said on Saturday. </p> <p>“Know it, after this election [on Sunday], Qandil [in northern Iraq] will not remain as it is,” Soylu told the Turkish nation during a campaign rally in capital Ankara.</p> <p>The terrorist PKK has its main base in the Mt. Qandil region, which is located near the Turkish border.</p> <p>In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK — listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU — has been responsible for the deaths of some 40,000 people, including women and children. </p> <p>Stating that Turkey gave its message to those who said “You cannot enter [Syria’s] Afrin,” Soylu added that no matter who is behind Qandil — be it the U.S. or whoever — Turkey is going to clear the area of the terrorists.</p> <p>Afrin was liberated from YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists in March of last year during Turkey's Operation Olive Branch.