Syria's Al-Bab besieged by Turkish army: Erdogan

By Emin Avundukluoglu

ANKARA

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that the Daesh-held city of Al-Bab in northern Syria was completely besieged by the Turkish army and the Free Syrian Army (FSA).

In a meeting with Albanian President Bujar Nishani in the presidential complex Wednesday, Erdogan said he has just received information from Chief of Turkish General Staff Hulusi Akar on the army's Operation Euphrates Shield.

"Right now, Al-Bab is completely besieged by the Free Syrian Army and our soldiers," said Erdogan.

Erdogan said several Turkish soldiers were martyred and wounded during the last stage of the siege of Al-Bab. "I wish Al-Bab will fall soon and local people of Al-Bab can find a chance to settle on their own territory."

Operation Euphrates Shield began in late August to improve security, support coalition forces and eliminate the terror threat along Turkey’s border using Free Syrian Army fighters backed by Turkish artillery and jets.

'Assassin of Russian envoy belonged to FETO'

Erdogan said that the assassin of Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov belonged to Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO). "Where he grew up, and all connections reveal this (FETO membership)."

Erdogan said that the assassin's international links were investigated by Turkish National Intelligence Service (MIT).

Russia’s ambassador to Turkey was shot dead by an assailant on Monday evening as he addressed the opening ceremony of an art exhibition in the Turkish capital Ankara.

Karlov was seriously wounded and immediately taken to Guven Hospital in the capital’s Cankaya district, where he was later pronounced dead.

Police shot dead the murderer -- a 22-year-old Turkish riot police officer named Mevlut Mert Altintas -- in an operation that lasted around 15 minutes.

A total of 12 suspects have been arrested so far in connection with the assassination.

According to a diplomatic source, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry late Tuesday that Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) was behind Karlov's assassination.