Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim has said Turkish-led Operation Euphrates Shield, which began in August to eliminate the Daesh presence in northern Syria, had come to an end, APA reports quoting Anadolu Agency.
In an interview with Turkish private broadcaster NTV, Binali Yildirim said any other future military operations would be named differently.
"If something threatening our security happens in the future, regarding Daesh or something else, then this will be a new operation. Operation Euphrates Shield has ended, and any other future operations will be named differently."
Yildirim also addressed the fact that the U.S. Embassy in Ankara confirmed that less than a week after the July 15 coup attempt, the U.S. consulate in Istanbul had called one of the chief suspects.
“‘We called him to cancel his visa. He was one of the suspects of the July 15, so we showed sensitivity. We tried to be responsible towards the Turkish Republic and we immediately canceled his visa.' This is the official explanation, if you believe,” Yildirim said, stressing that Turkey expected a more satisfying answer.
The U.S. statement comes after judicial officials at the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media, said earlier Wednesday that Adil Oksuz, who remains on the run, was contacted at 10.22 a.m. local time (0722GMT) on July 21 by the U.S.-registered number.
Concerning the decision by an Iraqi provincial assembly to raise a Kurdish flag alongside the Iraqi national flag at public buildings in Kirkuk, Yildirim said Turkey also opposed the decision.
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22:53
The Turkish National Security Council announced the end of the 'Euphrates Shield' military campaign in northern Syria, APA reports.
"It was noted that the Operation 'Euphrates Shield' which was started with the goal of ensuring national security, preventing the threat from Daesh and return of Syrian refugees to their homes has successfully completed," the statement by the Turkish National Security Council read.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended the meeting of the Turkish National Security Council.
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