Speaking at an opening ceremony of environmental projects in Ankara, Yildirim said the world was pretending to fight against the terror group, while Turkey was doing the actual fight.
He said Turkey has resolved the issue of Al-Bab, Syria's northern strategic town where Turkish-military backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) forces are now said to be in control. “Life returns to normal there,” he added. On Thursday, Defense Minister Fikri Isik said FSA fighters took control of “almost all” of Al-Bab as part of the ongoing Operation Euphrates Shield.
The Turkey-led Operation Euphrates Shield aims to provide security, support U.S.-led coalition forces, and eliminate presence of terrorists along Syria’s northern border with Turkey. The operation, which began last summer, relies heavily on FSA fighters backed by Turkish artillery and air support.
Yildirm also noted Turkey continues to host around 3 million refugees while it rescued 50,000 people from drowning on their way to the Aegean islands in the last five years. He added: “We are fighting simultaneously against PKK, Daesh and the Fetullah Terrorist Organization [FETO].”
The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and EU -- resumed its armed campaign in July 2015 and since then has been responsible for the deaths of approximately 1,100 security personnel and civilians, including women and children.
Ankara accused FETO, led by U.S.-based Fetullah Gulen, for orchestrating last year’s coup attempt against Turkey’s democratically-elected government, which left at least 248 martyrs in its wake and some 2,200 others injured.