Turkey resolves to fight terror groups in top meeting

Turkey's National Security Council (MGK) has underlined Turkey's determination to fight against terror organizations in the aftermath of the recent Ankara bombings, it was announced late Wednesday.

According to an official statement, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan chaired the meeting at the presidential palace in Ankara, where the Oct. 16 bombings at a peace rally that claimed the lives of 102 people was on top of the agenda.

The council underlined "Turkey's determination in fighting against terror organizations and its extensions," it said.

The council also said that PKK offshoots in Syria should also be designated as terrorist organizations internationally, adding that the fight against Daesh would continue with determination.  

The PKK -- also designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the EU -- renewed its armed campaign against the Turkish state this summer.

According to the statement, the refugee crisis was also discussed and the council called on the international community to take concrete steps regarding the issue.

At least 250,000 people have been killed since the beginning of the Syrian conflict in 2011, with 7.6 million internally displaced and over four million having fled to nearby countries.

The council also discussed border security measures, airspace violations, Russia and Iran's policy in Syria and Israeli actions in Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa mosque.

Since Oct. 1, clashes have repeatedly broken out in Israeli-occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem and the blockaded Gaza strip between Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli security forces.

The violence was at least partially prompted by repeated incursions by large groups of Jewish settlers -- usually backed by Israeli security forces -- into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.