Turkey’s operations in Syria to continue until border region secured: FM
Turkey says its operations in Syria will continue until the whole city of Manbij is liberated from Daesh.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu made the announcement on Sunday, after the Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) militant group claimed it had captured the town of Dabiq, located about 40 kilometers northeast of Aleppo and around 10 kilometers south of Syria’s border with Turkey.
He added that the town is now completely free of Daesh and that FSA also took control of Dabiq's neighboring villages of Sawran and Osman.
Cavusoglu noted that the FSA will now advance towards the city of al-Bab, located some 30 kilometers from the Turkish border.
"They (Free Syrian Army) have gained major successes in northern Syria and life is getting back to normal there. That's what we want to see in Syria," he claimed.
Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s spokesman also said now that Dabiq has been secured, Turkey-backed militants will continue until the whole border area is secured.
"Strategically, it is important that the Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army forces will continue their advance toward al-Bab, a key terrorist stronghold," said Ibrahim Kalin.
"Operation Euphrates Shield will continue until we are convinced that the border is completely secure, terrorist attacks against Turkish citizens out of the question and the people of Syria feel safe," he added.
While Ankara has tried to project its incursion as a campaign against Daesh, many observers say it is chiefly aimed against Syrian Kurds and staking out a foothold inside Syria.
Turkey has long been criticized for refusing to seriously fight Takfiri terrorists. The country stands accused of allowing potential militants to use its territory for travel and shipment of arms into Syria and buying smuggled oil from terrorists.
Israel launches air strikes on Syria-Lebanon border crossing
US vetoing of Gaza ceasefire resolution ‘disgraceful’: Iran’s UN envoy
Syria condemns Israel's killing of 36 in 'horrific' strike on Palmyra
Sirens sound across Tel Aviv as Hezbollah fires barrage of missiles at Israeli target
Israeli ‘archeologist’ who toured south Lebanon in military uniform to falsify history
The important of Venezuela for Iran
Iran beats traditional rival Russia in freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling friendly
Rape trials trigger protests against French ‘sexist and misogynistic’ culture
US photographer opens Berlin exhibition with anti-Israel speech
VIDEO | Press TV's News Headlines
VIDEO | US 'non-profit killer’ bill targets pro-Palestinian groups
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
