Turkish forces had seized “a lot of” positions in the Qandil region and that Qandil was no longer a “distant target” for the Turkish government, Soylu said.

“Timing is what is important for us right now,” Soylu told the Anadolu Agency in a televised interview.

“Qandil will be made into a safe place for Turkey, no one should doubt that,” Soylu added.

Turkish artillery and warplanes frequently bombard suspected PKK targets in the Kurdistan Region.

Besides airstrikes, Turkish army has entered 20 kilometers in the region, creating a number of military bases.

Reporter’s code: 50101