Celebrations are in order after Sunday saw Turkish troops and Syrian rebels oust ISIS militants from the Syria-Turkey Border. Turkey has been sending forces into Syria since August 24th to drive ISIS away from the border. With the last bit of border lost, ISIS is now effectively sealed in and cut off from the outside world.
On the same day, Syrian pro-government forces launched a huge offensive on Aleppo, recapturing areas of the northern city from the terrorist organisation.
The Free Syrian Army, backed by Turkey, successfully cleared ISIS from the border towns of Azaz and Jarablus. They also shut down key supply lines that ISIS relied on for weapons and the import of foreign fighters.
Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim defended Turkey’s intervention in Syria, referencing their shared border:
“We are there to protect our borders, ensure the safety of our citizens’ lives and property, and to protect the territorial integrity of Syria.”
US-supported Kurdish rebels have also been regaining ground against ISIS. Turkey has been acting to slow the advancement of the Kurdish, saying “We will never allow an artificial state in Syria’s north.”
