UPDATE - Qatar pleased Daesh removed from 2 Syrian villages

ADDS PENTAGON REACTION

By Gulsen Topcu

ISTANBUL (AA) – Qatar says it is pleased with The Free Syrian Army (FSA) taking control of two northern Syrian villages from Daesh.

According to FSA commanders, the villages of Dabiq and Soran were cleared Sunday as part of Turkey’s Operation Euphrates Shield.

Dabiq, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) northeast of Aleppo and approximately 10 kilometers (6 miles) south of Syria’s border with Turkey, has a symbolic importance for Daesh, as the group believes it will be the site of an end-times battle with non-Muslims. Dabiq is also the name of one of Daesh’s online magazines.

Qatar's foreign ministry said in a statement late Sunday that the liberation of two villages was 'significant' for seizing other Daesh-held cities.

The country also said it supported all measures the Turkish government took for its border security.

U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter also welcomed the liberation of Dabiq and thanked Turkey for the “close coordination during this operation” and the international coalition for its aid.

“Its (Dabiq’s) liberation gives the campaign to deliver ISIL a lasting defeat new momentum in Syria,” Carter said in a statement.

Operation Euphrates Shield, which began Aug. 24 and is backed by the Turkish Armed Forces, is aimed at bolstering border security, supporting coalition forces and eliminating the threat posed by terror organizations, especially Daesh.

It has succeeded in driving Daesh from Turkey’s border with Syria as Turkish armor, artillery, special forces and jets support FSA fighters.

Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Sunday at a press conference that the operation would continue toward the northern Syrian city of al-Bab, 29 kilometers (18 miles) from the Turkish border.

Cavusoglu added that the much anticipated Mosul operation was expected to soon begin.