Turkey's Syria operation aims to clear 'all terrorists'

By Sinan Uslu

ANKARA

Turkey’s military operation in Syria aims to clear terrorist elements along country’s border, presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said Wednesday.

“The aim of the Jarabulus operation is to clear all terrorist elements, including Daesh and the YPG,” Kalin wrote on his twitter account.

YPG is the military wing of the PYD, which Turkey considers as the Syrian affiliate of the terrorist PKK group.

The spokesman added Turkey was making a full commitment to the issue.

“Necessary steps will continue to be taken to protect Turkey’s border security and Syria’s territorial integrity,” he added.

Turkey launched the Operation Euphrates Shield early Wednesday against Daesh in the region around the Syrian border city of Jarabulus.

Artillery and air strikes were launched against Daesh positions around Jarabulus, which lies near the western bank of the Euphrates River, from around 4 a.m. local time (0100 GMT).