Erdogan holds election campaign rally in southern Turkey

ISPARTA, TURKEY - MAY 27: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses supporters during an election campaign rally of his ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party in southern Isparta province of Turkey on May 27, 2018. Turkey has never abandoned unity, togetherness, and brotherhood despite attacks from inside and outside of the country, Erdogan said, referring to FETO, PKK, and Daesh terror groups. He announced that Turkey has neutralized 4,480 terrorists in Syria’s Afrin since the launch of Operation Olive Branch. Erdogan also noted that anti-terror operations also neutralized 419 PKK terrorists in northern Iraq and 405 terrorists inside the country. Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" in their statements to imply that the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured. Erdogan is expected to hold rallies in 30 provinces during his election campaign. Last April, the parliament passed a bill for early elections on June 24, cementing Turkey’s move to a presidential system. In the April 2017 referendum, Turkish voters had approved the switch from a parliamentary system to a presidential one. Erdogan has served as president since 2014 -- Turkey's first popularly elected president. Before that, he served as prime minister, from 2003 to 2014. Should he win the June 24 election, Erdogan would be Turkey's first leader under the presidential system, doing away with the prime minister's post, among other changes. (Footage by Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)