The terrorist group Daesh has been forced to flee the northern Syrian city of Jarabulus following Turkey’s military operation, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday, Anadolu agency reported.
Speaking at a press conference with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, who was in the capital Ankara for a day-long visit, Erdogan said: “Members of the Free Syrian Army and Jarabulus residents have recaptured Jarabulus.”
Turkish military’s Operation Euphrates Shield in Syria was launched early Wednesday, when artillery and airstrikes were followed by Turkish tanks crossing the border to target Daesh and the PYD in support of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters.
The Ankara-backed fighters took control of Jarabulus, where one FSA member was killed. The Turkish army sustained no casualties.
Jarabulus is located 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the Turkish-Syrian border.
Erdogan said the most important issue in the region was the fight against terrorism. “Whether [the fight is against] Daesh, the PKK, the PYD or FETO, [they are] all terrorists in our view,” he said.
“Al-Nusrah, Al-Shabab whichever [organization it] is, [they are] all terrorist organizations,” he added. “We cannot make distinctions [such as] bad terrorists, good terrorists. Terrorists are terrorists,” he said.
In reference to the PYD, which is reportedly fighting Daesh in Syria, Erdogan said: “One terrorist organization fighting with another one does not justify it.”
While Turkey considers the PYD to be the Syrian affiliate of the terrorist PKK organization, the U.S. sees the group as its ally in the fight against Daesh.