While responding to the press's questions onboard his return flight to Ankara after convening in the G20 meeting held in Hangzhou, China, President Recep Tayyıp Erdoğan expounded on his meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama in China. Regarding Syria, President Erdoğan said, “Obama especially wants to work together concerning Raqqa, and we indicated that from our aspect, there won't be any inconvenience."
“We said, 'Let our military come together; this would take care of whatever is necessary,'" he stated.
"Daesh, which was forced to vacate Jarabulus, is on its way to al-Bab," Turkish President said describing the success of Turkish military-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) operations in northern Syria.
"Naturally, Daesh's most crucial headquarters is Raqqa. Obama especially wants to work together concerning Raqqa. We also indicated that there won't be any inconvenience from our aspect.
At this time, our military is keeping its distance in El-Rai with its logistic support and the moderate opposition has slowly started to advance towards the east from there. On the Euphrates River there is a bridge, which does not at our disposal; however the most important factor is that the bridge is in a strategic location and it has now been taken under our control for the duration. By taking the bridge, the operation has now taken on a more comfortable phase. At this time, the area between Menbij and the area north of it which has been taken under control is 11 kilometers, and after that, when we look at the area between Menbij and al-Bab it is roughly 36 kilometers. Right now, that district has been taken under control in a cautious way."
