Erdogan repeats vow to combat terrorism

IZMIR, Turkey

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday vowed once again to combat terrorism at home and abroad, saying Syria’s Al-Bab was almost free of Daesh terrorists as result of a Turkish army operation with the Free Syrian Army (FSA).

Speaking at the opening ceremony of Turkey's first ever floating storage regasification unit (FSRU) in the Aliaga district of the western Izmir province, Erdogan spoke about the recent development in Syria.

“Al-Bab is almost free, our armed forces together with the FSA will take the region soon," he said. “We will fight terrorism not only at home, but abroad also."

He went on to say Turkey was maintaining diplomatic ties with Russia, the U.S., Iran and Iraq as well as the Gulf countries, including Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

“We are coordinating with coalition forces,” he added.

Drawing on recent terror attacks in Turkey, Erdogan added: “Recent attacks target [our] stability and secured environment. We will not be deceived by those trying to limit Turkey through instability and insecurity, by diverting Turkey’s focus away from investment, development and progress. We know their games.”

Operation Euphrates Shield began in late August to improve security, support coalition forces and eliminate the terror threat along Turkey’s border using Free Syrian Army fighters backed by Turkish artillery and jets.

As of Thursday, the Turkish defense minister said over 1,000 Daesh terrorists have been killed since the beginning of the Euphrates Shield operation.

Reporting by Sinan Uslu, Ilhan Toprak, Ilkay Guder and Ahmet Bayram; Writing by Ahmet Sait Akçay