Washington, Aug. 26, 2016 – Jarabulus, one of the cities on the border of Turkey hitherto under the control of ISIL fighters has been liberated by coalition forces, comprising Syrian opposition forces and Turkey military.
Press Secretary to the Department of Defence, Mr. Peter Cook who made the revelation at a press briefing said Syrian opposition forces, supported by coalition air power and Turkish military, are now in control of the area on the Turkey-Syria border.
“ISIL has largely been forced out of the city, operations to clear pockets of resistance and IEDs left by ISIL continue”, he said, adding that the development combined with the success of the Syrian democratic forces in freeing Manbij from ISIL, remains an important milestone in the military campaign, adding that Jarabulus has been a focal point of foreign fighter flow for ISIL.
“ ISIL’s ability to move those foreign fighters and potential external operative back and forth across the border has put the people of Syria, Iraq, Turkey, and beyond at risk, and the Manbij to Jarabulus route is no longer available to ISIL forces”, he said.
