President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Turkey's retaliatory strikes against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) will continue with great determination.
“The current operations will continue until all restive urban areas are cleared of terrorists. There is no stopping. The struggle will carry on with the same determination," the President asserted at the inauguration of a tram line on which 72 vehicles will transport commuters in the central Antolian city of Konya.
In his speech, the President lashed out at Figen Yüksekdağ, the co-chair of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), for her claim that the state itself set fire to Kurşunlu Mosque, in the central Sur district of Diyarbakır.
“One so-called co-chair says the mosque has been bombed by a state helicopter. They are unobservant people. What kind of helicopter would leave a minaret intact but set afire the doors of the mosque?" he asked.
The President vowed that all residents who left their homes due to curfews would return, but those, who dug trenches would perish where they fought. “Those people were forced out of the area. Let me tell you. They will return. But you will perish in those houses, buildings and trenches you have dug."
The fire started early December 7 in the mosque, the first Muslim place of worhip constructed under the Ottoman reign. Home-made explosives, supposedly hurled at the mosque by PKK during the clashes with the security forces, have been blamed for the fire, which led to massive destruction inside the mosque.
The 500-year-old mosque was built by Diyarbakır province's Bıyıklı Mejhmet Pasha between 1516 and 1520 during the Ottoman era. It is called Kurşunlu mosque as its dome is covered with lead.
Before attending the opening ceremony, Erdoğan visited the 3rd Main Jet Base Group Command, in Konya. He was officially welcomed by Lieutenant General Haluk Şahar upon his arrival at the Command that hosts one of the most active bases, where airplane pilots undergo training by flying F-16 fighter jets.
The central Anatolian city of Konya is also the birthplace of Erdoğan's successor, Ahmet Davutoğlu, currently at the helm of ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party).
The Turkish President struck a pose along with other high-ranking military officials outside the Command headquarters and signed a guestbook to commemorate his visit to the active bases. He also visited 134th Aerobatic Team Squadron, a show team better known as The Turkish Stars.
The
are not only one of the youngest supersonic teams but also the biggest supersonic team in the world. At their homebase in Konya, the 134th Acroteam Squadron Command now has 14 F-5 jets, both single and dual seats.
