Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the President of Turkey, stated on Friday that the Turkish army's operation alongside Syrian rebels to fully capture the city of Al-Bab in Syria is nearly complete. Speaking in Izmir, Erdogan remarked that the Syrian Free Army, supported by Turkish forces, will soon finalize the operation in Al-Bab. The Turkish President noted that the city is almost liberated, and our armed forces, along with the Syrian Free Army, will soon take control of the area. According to the Kuwait News Agency, Erdogan also mentioned that we are fighting terrorism not only within our borders but also outside them. Turkey has been conducting an operation called 'Euphrates Shield' in Syrian territory since August. Turkey claims that the aim of the 'Euphrates Shield' operation is to clear border areas of Islamic State forces and Kurdish militants. Syrian army forces and Syrian rebels are trying to take Al-Bab, located 25 kilometers from the Turkish border, from Islamic State forces. On Wednesday, intense clashes occurred between Turkish forces and the Islamic State group in Al-Bab, resulting in at least 16 Turkish soldiers being killed. Reuters reported that Wednesday was the deadliest day for Turkish forces in the battle against the Islamic State in Syrian territory. Meanwhile, Hurriyet newspaper reported that Fikri Isik, the Turkish Defense Minister, confirmed that 16 Turkish soldiers were killed in the clashes on Wednesday. In this context, 14 Turkish soldiers were killed in clashes with ISIS in the city of Al-Bab, Syria. The Turkish army stated that the highway from Al-Bab to Aleppo is under complete control.
Erdogan: Operation to Capture Syrian City of Al-Bab Nearly Complete
Turkish President Erdogan announced that the operation to capture Al-Bab in Syria is nearly complete, with Turkish and Syrian rebel forces close to taking control of the city. This operation is part of Turkey's broader campaign against ISIS and Kurdish militants along its border. The situation is significant as it highlights Turkey's military involvement in Syria and the ongoing conflict dynamics in the region.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Turkish President Erdogan announced that the operation to capture the city of Al-Bab in Syria is nearly complete, with Turkish forces and Syrian rebels close to taking control from ISIS. This operation is part of Turkey's ongoing military campaign against ISIS and Kurdish militants.
- 16 Turkish soldiers were killed in clashes with ISIS during the operation.
- The Turkish army has been conducting the 'Euphrates Shield' operation since August.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Turkey has been actively involved in the Syrian conflict, aiming to eliminate threats from ISIS and Kurdish militants along its border. The 'Euphrates Shield' operation is part of this broader strategy.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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