Speaking during an official visit to Bahrain, Erdogan said the planned safe zone would cover an area of at least 4,000 to 5,000 square kilometers. “We aim to turn 4,000 to 5,000 square kilometers (inside Syria) into a terror-free safe zone,” he said, adding that Arab and Turkmen civilians will be placed in the planned area.
The Turkish leader said that the humanitarian situation inside Syria -- which fell into civil war in 2011 -- was very bad. Erdogan said Turkey will continue to play an active role in the global anti-terrorism operations. "Turkey has killed over 3,000 Daesh terrorists in its ongoing operations in northern Syria," he said.
The Turkish president said that Daesh was a terrorist organization. "Islam is a religion of peace," he said. Erdogan said a permanent success in combating terrorism can only be achieved through joint and sincere efforts at the international level.
In August, Turkey launched a major offensive cod-named Operation Euphrates Shield with a view to improving security, supporting coalition forces and eliminating terror threat along border. The Turkish military is currently supporting the Free Syrian Army fighters in liberating Al-Bab, a strategic town held by Daesh in northern Syria.