Turkish special forces units supported by warplanes from the USA -led coalition launched an operation in northern Syria to wipe out Islamic State militants along the Turkey-Syria border, a Turkish government press office said on Wednesday.
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Turkey had vowed on Monday to “completely cleanse” Islamic State militants from its border region after a suicide bomber suspected of links to the group killed 54 people, including 22 children, at a Kurdish wedding in southeastern city of Gaziantep.
Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu made the promise amid the reports that Ankara-backed rebels were massing on the border in anticipation of an impending operation against ISIS.
“We do not want Daesh (IS) to exist in Iraq and Syria”, he told reporters.
Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, front-centre, military commanders and ministers walk to the mausoleum of Turkey’s founder Kemal Ataturk to pay respects, in Ankara, Turkey, Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016.
“What we have said, since the beginning, is that having Jarabulus or any other city held by IS is unacceptable”, he said.
Residents were ordered to evacuate by loudspeaker and shuttle buses transported residents out of the area.
Minibuses were dispatched to the district governor’s office to pick up locals who do not own a vehicle.
The Hurriyet newspaper and others said the mortar rounds hit the town of Karkamis, in Turkey’s Gaziantep province.
No casualties or injuries reported. For the last two days, Turkey has been shelling Islamic State positions around Jarabulus.
Abdulkadir Selvi, a well-connected columnist for the Hurriyet daily, said the Turkey-backed offensive “could begin at any moment”.
Syrian activists, meanwhile, said that hundreds of Turkish-backed Syrian opposition fighters were gathered in the Turkish border area near Karkamis in preparation for an attack on Jarablus.
Abdel-Sattar al-Jader was shot by unknown gunmen late Monday, an hour after he accused Turkey of mobilizing fighters and “terrorists” for Jarablus. There was no confirmation from Turkish sources.
Turkey regards the PYD as a terror group, although Washington sees its People’s Protection Units (YPG) militia – as the most effective fighting force against the jihadists.
US Vice President Joe Biden is due to visit Ankara Wednesday for crucial talks with key leaders and Syria is set to be a crucial issue.
The movements have come at a critical juncture for Turkey in Syria’s five-and-a-half-year war, with signs growing it is on the verge of a landmark policy shift.
Russian Federation has been fighting in Syria alongside its ally, President Bashar al-Assad, whom Turkey opposes. The planned offensive is meant to clear out militants near the border and disrupt shipments of weapons from Syria into Turkey to be used against Turkish forces and citizens.
A State Department spokesman said Tuesday that Turkey had formally requested his extradition, though the request wasn’t based on allegations that he was connected to the recent coup attempt.
“To finish off the evening the young guys wanted one last song”.
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