Terror groups fighting over territorial claims in Syria

By Efsun Yilmaz

ANKARA (AA) - Terror groups are fighting against each other over territorial claims in Syria, Turkish foreign minister said Saturday.

Speaking to journalists in western province of Izmir, Mevlut Cavusoglu drew attention to fighting among terrorist groups and a need for improved security in the region.

“The security there [in Syria's Al-Bab] should be handed over to local forces but we should prepare it [a secure environment] for them. Right now, terror groups in Syria are involved in a war, fighting against each other over territorial claims,” Cavusoglu said.

“Now Al-Bab is under control but nothing is completely over, clearing [the area of terrorist elements] remains underway. Security should be provided properly. These areas are terror-free regions. People from other parts of Syria are going there. More than 50,000 people returned to these regions from Turkey,” he added.

He also said the recently-ended Operation Euphrates Shield had achieved "significant success" in Al-Bab. He added that Turkish soldiers were still in the region.

The Turkey-led Operation Euphrates Shield, which began in August last year to eliminate the Daesh presence in northern Syria, came to an end on March 29.

Since Syria’s civil war erupted in 2011, more than 250,000 people have been killed and millions displaced, according to UN figures.