Turkey’s military said late on Tuesday that three Turkish soldiers were killed when two tanks were hit by rockets fired by Islamic State.
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Erdogan and President Barack Obama briefly discussed a joint invasion of Raqqa during the G20 summit in China last weekend.
Turkish media reports and unnamed officials said up to 292 people had returned to the liberated town, which lies near the Euphrates south-west of the Turkish city Gaziantep, on Wednesday.
“Obama particularly wants to do something together with us about Raqqa”.
The offer came as the Obama administration said it was making another push for a ceasefire in Syria with talks today and Friday in Geneva between John Kerry, the U.S. secretary of state, and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov.
Previously, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that this operation will continue until the PYD militants are completely liquidated.
Turkey used to provide sections of northern Syria with electricity until October 2012 under a deal with Bashar al-Assad’s government in Damascus.
Ousting IS from the city would be a turning point in the conflict and mark a huge blow to the jihadists.
Turkey has also turned its attention to Kurdish rebel groups in the region, reaffirming its stance that all armed forces fighting on the border are “terrorists”, including the US-backed Kurdish YPG militia.
Erdogan said any Turkish role would have to be worked out separately. The deputy prime minister said four Turkish soldiers had been killed and 19 wounded in the two-week offensive.
The military said it had taken control of the Kantara, Es Sehid, Al Humran and Taslihuyuk settlements. Without whole-hearted United States support, they are vulnerable to attacks by the numerous enemies who encircle them, notably Turkey and possibly, in future, the Syrian government.
“Having kicked ISIS out of Jarabulus, our next goal is to help bring life back to normal in the area”, a Turkish official said.
The YPG says its troops have long since withdrawn from areas being targeted by Turkish-backed forces.
Turkey and the rebels also clashed for several days with Kurdish-led forces, who have been the main USA ally inside Syria in the war against Daesh.
After the registration process, they went through security checks before crossing into Syria through the border gate at Karkamis, the agency said.
“If we take a backward step terror groups like Daesh, PKK, PYD and YPG will settle there”.
“Turkey will have no problem with such action”, Erdogan said.
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President Erdogan added: “At this stage we have to show our presence in the region”.
