Isis 'cut off from rest of world' as rebels expel Islamists from Turkish border

[Independent voter]

Why didn't Turkey invade months ago? Did Russia give Turkey permission?

I think ISIS is going to be much more resilient than anyone thinks.




http://www.independent.co.uk/news/wo...-a7225276.html

Isis has lost control of its last territories on the border with Turkey, monitoring groups say, in a major blow to the group's ability to receive foreign fighters from the rest of the world.

Speaking to The Independent, a spokesperson for the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Isis had conceded control of its last two villages on the border, retreating to positions around 7-8km to the south.
It completes an operation to take control of the area by the rebel Free Syrian Army, backed by a Turkish ground offensive that began at the town of Jarablus on 24 August.

On Saturday, more Turkish tanks rolled over the border into Al-Rai, a town some 55km (34 miles) west of Jarablus, and over the weekend a pincer Turkish-rebel offensive has been closing the gap between the two.

Rami Abdulrahman, from the UK-based Observatory, said: "Everything is finished. There is no more Isis at the border."
Turkey's state-run*Anadolu news agency also reported that*the advance had*“removed terror organization Daesh's [Isis]*physical contact with the Turkish border in northern Syria."*

After three years in control of portions of the border, Isis's grasp over the last villages dissolved in a matter of hours.
Three hours before the Turkish-rebel advance was complete, Isis was still reported as holding four villages. Two hours before, the Observatory had told The Independent: "There is only 4-6km still under Isis control at the border, just two villages and a farm, and after that they [FSA] will control the whole area.

"It will be a few hours, and then Isis will be cut off from the rest of the world."

Turkish-backed rebels have been closing in on Isis on two sides from Jarablus (circled in NE) and Al-Rai (circled to W), leaving only a tiny stretch still connecting Isis with the rest of the world. It became apparent Isis was losing control of the border area when the key town of Manbij (circled, SE) fell in early August

Asked how the Turkish-led offensive had been able to secure a stretch of 55km in just two days, mopping up a dozen or more towns and villages, Mr Abdulrahman said: "Isis have stopped fighting there, they are moving out.

"We said after they lost Manbij, Isis would start to lose everywhere. Sure enough, when the Turkish forces went into Jarablus that was not really fighting, there was no one killed from either side."

Read more
More Turkish tanks cross into Syria as operation enters 'new phase'

For Isis, it seems the link to Turkey became too hard to maintain. "Isis is losing the border because they had operations againt the Free Syrian Army, and also operations against the Kurdish, and against the regime," Mr Abdulrahman said, suggesting Isis will redeploy their fighters elsewhere.

Turkey launched its operation in Syria, which it has named Euphrates Shield, with the dual purpose of driving out Isis and stopping the advance of the Kurdish YPG militia, fearing its growing control of northern Syria as Isis's power waned.


Speaking at the G20 gathering of world leaders in China, President Tayyip Erdogan made no distinction between Turkey's goals against Isis and the YPG, which controls the rest of the Syrian border area. He told reporters following a meeting with Barack Obama: "It is our wish that a terror corridor not be formed across our southern border."

Indeed, with Isis almost pushed back from the border, Turkey appears already to have turned its full attention to the US-backed YPG.

Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said in a speech on Sunday in the southeastern city of Diyarbakir: “We will never allow the formation of an artificial state in the north of Syria,” referring to the Kurdish desire for autonomy in the region.
"We are there to protect our borders, ensure the safety of our citizens' lives and property, and to protect the territorial integrity of Syria."

[PACOX]

That could have been accomplished a long time ago if Turkey would've have put their beef with the Kurds aside for a little bit.

[Gref]

@pacox turkey has been asking for permission to create a safe buffer zone since forever. Yes it could have been accomplished long time ago, if the idea was not opposed. Finally we get the permission (actually not permission but a self defense right according to UN after getting 238492847284327 mortar to border towns and people died) and IS is gone in a week. Really a fucking job well done to every nation every president for opposing it. If there was a safe zone within the syria's borders as turkey suggested again and again, you guys in EU wouldn't have this much migrant bullshit now. Good luck trying to send all of them back now. for fuck sake. really.

[Cybran]

The blue part is occupied by Turks and their FSA terrorists. The Turks just wanted to prevent 2 of the Kurdish cantons (in green) from linking up and created a large Kurdish autonomous region.

The Turks will continue to buy oil and supply ISIS, same with the CIA.

[PACOX]

@Cybran don't know about the Turks (but doubtful nonetheless) but the US definitely doesn't need ISIS oil. If the US was securing oil for anyone it would would be for Europe, who also doesn't need ISIS oil.

[Cybran]

@Cybran don't know about the Turks (but doubtful nonetheless) but the US definitely doesn't need ISIS oil. If the US was securing oil for anyone it would would be for Europe, who also doesn't need ISIS oil.

Reagan didn't need cocaine from the Contras but he still sold it to Black inner cities.

[ParanoiD84]

The Turks have done jack shit against isis before their move against the kurds, Turkey only took action when isis is weak as fuck so not much they have done honestly and i think their last airstrike against isis was in november before their move against the kurds.