Turkish Interior Minister Defends Turkey's Syria Operation

Turkish Interior Minister Efkan Ala stressed that Turkey will not allow terrorist groups to pose threat to its security.

    In a statement to Anadolu Agency (AA), Efkan Ala said that the military operation, launched early Wednesday in northern Syria, came to eliminate the terrorist sources there, adding that Turkey's security threat not only from ISIS, but there are other terrorist organizations also threaten Turkey. "They struck with 9 mortar shells yesterday in Karkamis and another one today," Ala said, referring to a town just inside the Turkish border. "Turkey cannot be a mere spectator to this," he added. 

    The Turkish Minister said that civilians were evacuated from border areas with Syria and were transferred to safe places.

    The operation also seeks to support the territorial integrity of Syria and would continue until the "terror threat at our border is eliminated," Ala said.

    Meanwhile, the Turkish Armed Forces hit 82 targets in Jarablus in northern Syria with rockets, as part of anti-ISIS operations starting at 4.00 a.m. (0230 GMT) early Wednesday, military sources said.

Source: QNA