Islamic State has lost its last link between its main territories and the outside world as Syrian rebels backed by Turkish tanks and airstrikes captured the last stretch of the Syrian-Turkish border held by the extremist group.
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Turkish-backed rebels have cleared Islamic State from a 90km corridor along Turkeys Syrian border, reinforcing Ankaras plan to drive out Sunni militants and stop the advance of Syrian Kurdish fighters.
He said: “Thank God, today, from Azaz to Jarablus, our 91km of borderline with Syria has been entirely secured”. The YPG and its political wing, the PYD, inherited control of the city, though the state’s police force remained.
The Islamic State jihadist group has reportedly lost control of its last strip of territory along the Syrian-Turkish border.
Turkey intervened militarily in Syria’s war less than two weeks ago by launching Operation Euphrates Shield.
Turkey’s military entered Syria last month to back efforts by Syrian rebels to push IS from the border, and has also clashed with Syrian Kurdish troops.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan raised concern about the formation of a “terror corridor” along Turkey’s Syrian border. In 12 days of the operation, Turkey’s backed FSA control took almost 600 square kilometers from PYD/PKK and ISIS fighters.
The border town of Jarablus, which Syrian rebels and Turkish forces recently recaptured from the terror group, is a critical location for supplies, money and fighters coming in and out of ISIS-held areas.
Despite several rounds of worldwide negotiations, a solution to the civil war that has killed more than 290,000 people and displaced millions remains elusive.
The development leaves about 250,000 people living in rebel-controlled parts of the city cut off from the outside world once again and will raise new fears about a humanitarian crisis.
Syrian government forces backed by Russian air power have been pounding Aleppo relentlessly for months now in an effort to take back the eastern part of the city, which has been in rebel hands for almost four years.
The Islamic State group claimed twin suicide bombings in the neighboring coastal towns of Tartus and Jableh in May that killed over 160 people.
The siege prompted worldwide concern, with aid agencies urging 48-hour ceasefires to ensure humanitarian access.
Government forces first encircled eastern Aleppo on July 17, but rebel forces, led by the Islamist Jaish Al Fatah coalition, were able to break through government lines south-west of the city on August 6.
The fighting in Van, around the Tendurek mountains, resulted in the death of 13 PKK militants in air strikes, Turkish media said.
Earlier Sunday, hopes were raised that Moscow and Washington might be on the verge of announcing a deal to halt the bloodshed.
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“Then we can say that our joint work with the United States in the fight against terrorist organizations, including along the Syrian track, will be significantly improved and intensified”.
