People gesture during the funeral of victims of an attack on a wedding party that left 50 dead, Gaziantep, Turkey, August 21.
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The foreign minister stressed the importance of Turkey’s role, and that of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in refuting the extremist group’s ideology. A senior security official told Reuters the device used was the same type as those employed in the July 2015 suicide attack in the border town of Suruc and the October 2015 suicide bombing of a rally of pro-Kurdish activists in Ankara, both claimed by the IS.
The Arab rebel groups due to take part in the Jarablus operation are themselves hostile to the YPG, having fought with it further west near Aleppo this year.
The country has suffered a string of attacks in the last 12 months blamed on Kurdish militants and IS. A place so well known and loved for its culture, history and hospitality has now turned into a depiction of bloodshed and violence.
Turkey has shelled Islamic State positions in Syria for a second day, as expectations grow of a major Ankara-backed offensive against the jihadis.
Turkey had always been accused of turning a blind eye to the rise of IS – charges it vehemently denies – but has taken a tougher line following attacks at home.
Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Simsek said the “barbaric” attack in Gaziantep, near the border with Syria, on Saturday appeared to be a suicide bombing.
“Turkey shamelessly and openly backs IS and al-Qaeda terrorists against Kurdish freedom fighters”, Sadi Pria, a top Iraqi Kurdish official in Irbil, has said.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has said IS should be “completely cleansed” from northern Syria.
“The Turkish artillery has not stopped. this is to create the right atmosphere to start the battle of liberating Jarablus”, said the rebel, who declined to be identified.
The Gaziantep attack came amid continuing turmoil in Turkey in the month after Erdogan’s government survived an attempted coup by rogue military officers, which the Turkish leader has blamed on USA -based cleric Fethullah Gulen.
They underlined the need to bring perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism to justice and urged all states to cooperate actively with the Turkish government and all other relevant authorities in this regard, said the statement. Erdogan blames the attempt on Fetullah Gulen, a Pennsylvania-based cleric who has denied any involvement.
Russia’s Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov said in emailed comments on Tuesday that Russian Federation and the Syrian government will announce “the first 48-hour humanitarian break in hostilities” in Aleppo as soon as they receive an official request from the United Nations envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura.
A bus driver who shuttled some of the guests from Siirt to Gaziantep said that he couldn’t believe the party was targeted.
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Some in Turkey, particularly in the Kurdish southeast, feel the government has not done enough to protect its citizens from Islamic State.
