DHAKA: Turkish president said that he and US force were ready to drive the Islamic State from their Syrian strong hold Raqqa.

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told the BBC that US president Barack Obama ahs backed the idea when the two met at G20 summit in China.

“Obama wants to do some things jointly concerning Raqqa,” Erdogan said adding “We said this would not be a problem from our perspective”.

He also added that Turkey would have ‘no problem’ to carry out such actions.

Presidents comments were published in Turkish media, however, the US media remained silent on the recent comment on obliteration of the IS.

Last month Turkey launched an operation inside Syria, targeting both IS and Kurdish rebels.

Turkish-backed militia drove IS from the border town of Jarablus, but Turkey has also been concerned with checking the advance of Kurdish forces whom it regards as terrorists.

Russia, who is allied to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said it is deeply concerned by the movement of Turkish forces deeper into Syrian territory.

Raqqa’s fall was a key point in the rise of IS as it seized swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria, and is now considered as the ‘Jihadists’ capital.

Between 250,000 and 500,000 people are still thought to live there, with brutal stories emerging of the treatment of civilians.

BDST: 2140 HRS, SEP 07, 2016
NR/RR