Turkey to use strategy implemented in Al-Bab against terrorists in Raqqa

 

The Turkish Armed Forces will implement the same strategy while liberating the Syrian city of Raqqa from the Islamic State (ISIL or Daesh) terror group, outlawed in Russia, as the one used during the Al Bab operation, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said Monday.

 

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“The units of the Turkish Armed Forces are in Northern Syria, supporting the approaching troops of the [opposition] Free Syrian Army. The same tactics can be implemented against the Islamic State terror group in Raqqa,” Yildirim said, as cited by Anadolu news agency.

 

He noted that the situation in Al Bab is now under control, however the operation to clear the city from terrorists is still continuing.

 

“The terrorists’ supply routes have been completely eliminated,” the Turkish prime minister stressed.

 

According to Yildirim, Turkey is ready to continue the Operation Euphrates Shield in Syria after the clearing of Al Bab is complete.

 

“The main condition for this is the [United States’] stopping cooperation with some terror structures against others,” Yildirim said.

 

The prime minister also noted that the United States had promised Turkey to liberate the city of Manbij from the People’s Protection Units (YPG), however the promise had not been kept. According to Yildirim, Turkey aims at liberating Manbij even if the United States continues to support YPG in fighting against the Daesh terror group.