Turkey is not only fighting the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), but all terrorist organizations, led by the Islamic State (IS), Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said Monday.
"We are not only fighting the YPG through the spring of peace, but we are also fighting all the terrorist organizations, especially the state," Akar told reporters in Ankara. "Our only goal is to eliminate terrorism. Religious in the region, and their security is important to us. "
The minister stressed that his country is doing everything possible to ensure the security of the "brothers" Kurds and all residents of northern Syria without exception.
| One of the pictures broadcast by the Turkish media of what he said was a prison in Tel Abyad, from which Kurdish units withdrew after the release of ISIS detainees. |
Regarding the release of ISIS operatives, Akar said, "We are following this matter accurately and sensitively. There is only one prison in the area where there are ISIS prisoners. .
The Turkish Defense Minister confirmed that the Turkish forces filmed the prison and documented what happened, adding, "We informed the matter to the concerned authorities addressing us."
On the developments of the military operation launched by Turkey on Wednesday, Akkar confirmed that the cities of Tel Abyad and Ras Al Ain are under control and that efforts are continuing in the rest of the region.
Some major countries had anticipated the events and warned of the possibility of the release of detained ISIS operatives during the Turkish operation. ISIS fighters detained in camps run by Kurdish factions.
On the same day, NATO Secretary Jens Stoltenberg spoke during his visit to Istanbul about NATO's fears of ISIS fighters fleeing Syria.