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Erdogan: We Have Evidence That US-led Coalition is Supporting Terrorist Groups | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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The Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday that he has evidence that US – led coalition forces are providing support to terrorist groups in Syria including ISIS, the Kurdish People’s Protection Units and the Kurdish Democratic Union Party in Syria.

According to Reuters, Erdogan said that “They accuse us of supporting ISIS” and “Now they are providing support to terrorist organisations including ISIS, the Kurdish People’s Protection Units and the Kurdish Democratic Union Party. This is very clear. We have confirmed evidence, with pictures, photos and videos”. Erdogan made these remarks at a press conference in the Turkish capital Ankara.

The Turkish military announced yesterday that 158 ISIS targets in the Al-Bab area in the countryside of Aleppo, northern Syria, had been destroyed and that 13 members of the organisation were killed.

A statement made by the Turkish Army yesterday pointed out that the operation that is being carried out by the Free Syrian Army (FSA) in order to seize the city of Al-Bab with Turkish support on the ground and in the air continues. Two FSA fighters have been killed and a third was injured.

The statement also stated that explosive detection units have defused 2387 handmade bombs and 42 mines in the areas liberated from ISIS since the beginning of the operation. On his part, Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said in remarks that he made after a Turkish cabinet meeting yesterday that “If support is not provided to Turkey, its national forces are able to carry out the operation to liberate Al-Bab because the matter is linked to our national security”.