Germany's interior minister urges Türkiye for 'proportionate response to terrorism'

Photo: AA

Click to read the article in Turkish

Germany's Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has said Türkiye should take "proportionate steps" in its fight against "terrorism," referring to its recent airstrikes on northern Syria and Iraqi Kurdistan.

"As much as we understand the hard struggle against terrorism, responses must be proportionate and civilians, in particular, must be protected," Feaser remarked during a joint press conference with Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu.

"I appeal for an escalation of violence to be prevented," she added.

Türkiye had carried out airstrikes on an area stretching from northwestern Syria to the Kurdistan region in northern Iraq.

The strikes targeted the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in Iraq and areas controlled by Kurdish-led groups in Syria. The government said it was retaliation for the deadly bomb attack in İstanbul on November 13. The groups had denied involvement in the attack.

In response, Soylu said what was done to the civilians in Kilis was "not proportionate," referring to a mortar attack that killed three civilians the next day. No group claimed responsibility for the attack.

"They wanted to establish a terror state around us and it's not possible for us to allow that. It's our responsibility to protect our border and our nation," he said.

Soylu'ya Almanya'nın Türkiye'nin hava saldırılarına ilişkin açıklamaları da soruldu. Taksim'de ve dün Kilis'te düzenlenen roket saldırısında hayatını kaybeden "insanlara hiçbir orantı uygulanmadığını" söyleyen Soylu, "Polonya'ya 2 bomba düştü diye NATO ayağa kalktı" dedi.

Yesterday, a spokesperson for Germany's Foreign Ministry also said Türkiye should "act proportionately" and respect international law.

Germany takes the indications about the PKK's responsibility very seriously, Christopher Burger noted. (SD/VK)