President Erdoğan Visits Command Centre of Operation Olive Branch

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar visited the Command Centre of the 2nd Army in Hatay which is responsible for the conduct of Operation Olive Branch.

President Erdoğan was accompanied also by Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ, National Defence Minister Nurettin Canikli, Land Forces Commander Gen. Yaşar Güler and Governor of Hatay Erdal Ata.

Addressing the soldiers on duty at the Command Centre of the 2^nd Army in Hatay which is responsible for the conduct of Operation Olive Branch, President Erdoğan pointed out that the operation carried out in Afrin in order to ensure our national security aims to clear the region of terrorist elements.

President Erdoğan also wished the soldiers success, reminding them that they are carrying out a divine mission. During the meeting at which he was briefed on the operation, President Erdoğan also contacted with the command centres at the General Staff Headquarters, Command of Land Forces, Command of Air Forces, Command of Naval Forces and Command of Air Force Combat Base in Eskişehir via live video conference calls.

During his address via video conference, President Erdoğan emphasized that Operation Olive Branch will continue until a result is achieved. Mentioning that Turkey does not have its eyes on any country’s lands, President Erdoğan said after Afrin has been cleared of the terrorist elements, the area will be handed over to its true residents. President Erdoğan noted that the clearing of the area from the terrorists will also quicken the return of the Syrians to their country. During his visit in Hatay, President Erdoğan was also briefed on Turkish Task Force Command in Somalia and Qatari-Turkish Combined Joint Task Force Command in Doha by contacting them via video conference calls.