Syrian rebels backed by Turkish forces entered one of ISIS's last strongholds on Turkish-Syrian border
Istanbul:
Syrian rebels backed by Turkey have taken control of the Syrian town of Jarablus from ISIS terrorists to prevent Kurdish forces from seizing a new swathe of territory on Turkey's southern border, Turkish Defence Minister Fikri Isik said.
In an interview with Turkey's NTV channel today, the minister also said Turkish-backed rebels were "cleansing" Jarablus of ISIS, who had controlled the strategic town.
Syrian rebels backed by Turkish special forces, tanks and warplanes entered one of ISIS's last strongholds on the Turkish-Syrian border on Wednesday, in Turkey's first major US-backed incursion into its southern neighbour.
Turkey sees the YPG, the armed wing of the Syrian Kurdish party PYD, as an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has fought a three-decade insurgency in Turkey's southeast.
In an interview with Turkey's NTV channel today, the minister also said Turkish-backed rebels were "cleansing" Jarablus of ISIS, who had controlled the strategic town.
Syrian rebels backed by Turkish special forces, tanks and warplanes entered one of ISIS's last strongholds on the Turkish-Syrian border on Wednesday, in Turkey's first major US-backed incursion into its southern neighbour.
Turkey sees the YPG, the armed wing of the Syrian Kurdish party PYD, as an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has fought a three-decade insurgency in Turkey's southeast.
© Thomson Reuters 2016
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