Islamic State Militants Abducted About 2,000 Civilians From Minbij

Islamic State militants abducted about 2,000 civilians from Minbij shortly after they were forced to retreat from the strategic Syrian city near the Turkish border, Kurdish officials said on Friday.
"We did not fire at them [the militants] as they took civilians with them while fleeing towards Jarablous [in Aleppo]," Shervan Darwish, the spokesman for the Kurdish Minbij Military Council, told dpa.
The Democratic Forces of Syria (DFS), a US-backed alliance of Kurds and Arabs, on Friday declared the "liberation" of Minbij near the Turkish border, from Islamic State after a campaign of more than two months against the extremist group.
Al-Sirib, the last area that was still under Islamic State control in Minbij, was "totally cleansed of the gangs," the DFS-linked Minbij Military Council said in a statement carried by the pro-Kurdish Firat news agency.
"Only mine-clearing operations are ongoing," it said.US airstrikes had played a key role in the offensive, according to the statement
Islamic State fighters withdrew from al-Sirib without a fight, heading to the area of Jarablous on the rural edge of northern Aleppo province, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
The DFS started a major offensive in late May, backed by a US-led air coalition, to retake Minbij that has been under Islamic State since 2014.
On August 6, the Britain-based Observatory reported that the DFS had taken almost full control of Minbij and started a mopping operation in the city's northern section where Islamic State extremists were holed up.
The fall of Minbij, near the often porous border with Turkey, is likely to have a major impact on Islamic State's ability to bring supplies and fighters to its de facto Syrian capital of al-Raqqa and its remaining territories in Syria and Iraq.

At a joint news conference, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif expressed his country’s support to Turkey over last month’s failed coup attempt by renegade officers within the military that left more than 270 people dead. Turkey has complained of a lack of solidarity from Western allies who have raised concerns over Turkey’s massive crackdown on alleged supporters of a movement led by US-based Muslim cleric Fetullah Gulen. Turkey accuses Gulen of orchestrating the coup.

 

“I congratulate the Turkish nation for the defiance they showed against the coup-plotters,” Zarif told reporters, in comments translated into Turkish. “They showed the people of the region that they would not allow democracy and their rights to be taken away from them through coups and the use of force.”

 

Turkey and Iran have held opposing positions on Syria, with Iran backing the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad and Turkey advocating his departure.

 

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said however, that despite differences Turkey and Iran “would strengthen cooperation for a lasting peace in Syria.”

 

Zarif said the two countries converged on the need “to maintain Syria’s territorial integrity, the need for the Syrian people to designate their own future.”

 

“We all need to stand against the extremism of (the Islamic State group) and al-Nusra,” he added.

 

The Iranian minister also welcomed recent moves by Turkey and Russia to patch up ties that were soured by Turkey’s downing of a Russian plane near the border with Syria in November.

 

“Iran always had good relations with both Turkey and Russia. All of the countries in the region must cooperate to bring peace in Syria and fighting against extremism,” Zarif said.

 

The ministers said they intend to expand trade between the two neighbors, including through the possible increase of natural gas sales to Turkey and more visits by Iranian tourists.

- See more at: http://www.sigmalive.com/en/news/international/147799/turkeyiran-to-increase-cooperation-in-syria#.dpuf

At a joint news conference, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif expressed his country’s support to Turkey over last month’s failed coup attempt by renegade officers within the military that left more than 270 people dead. Turkey has complained of a lack of solidarity from Western allies who have raised concerns over Turkey’s massive crackdown on alleged supporters of a movement led by US-based Muslim cleric Fetullah Gulen. Turkey accuses Gulen of orchestrating the coup.

 

“I congratulate the Turkish nation for the defiance they showed against the coup-plotters,” Zarif told reporters, in comments translated into Turkish. “They showed the people of the region that they would not allow democracy and their rights to be taken away from them through coups and the use of force.”

 

Turkey and Iran have held opposing positions on Syria, with Iran backing the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad and Turkey advocating his departure.

 

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said however, that despite differences Turkey and Iran “would strengthen cooperation for a lasting peace in Syria.”

 

Zarif said the two countries converged on the need “to maintain Syria’s territorial integrity, the need for the Syrian people to designate their own future.”

 

“We all need to stand against the extremism of (the Islamic State group) and al-Nusra,” he added.

 

The Iranian minister also welcomed recent moves by Turkey and Russia to patch up ties that were soured by Turkey’s downing of a Russian plane near the border with Syria in November.

 

“Iran always had good relations with both Turkey and Russia. All of the countries in the region must cooperate to bring peace in Syria and fighting against extremism,” Zarif said.

 

The ministers said they intend to expand trade between the two neighbors, including through the possible increase of natural gas sales to Turkey and more visits by Iranian tourists.

- See more at: http://www.sigmalive.com/en/news/international/147799/turkeyiran-to-increase-cooperation-in-syria#.dpuf

At a joint news conference, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif expressed his country’s support to Turkey over last month’s failed coup attempt by renegade officers within the military that left more than 270 people dead. Turkey has complained of a lack of solidarity from Western allies who have raised concerns over Turkey’s massive crackdown on alleged supporters of a movement led by US-based Muslim cleric Fetullah Gulen. Turkey accuses Gulen of orchestrating the coup.

 

“I congratulate the Turkish nation for the defiance they showed against the coup-plotters,” Zarif told reporters, in comments translated into Turkish. “They showed the people of the region that they would not allow democracy and their rights to be taken away from them through coups and the use of force.”

 

Turkey and Iran have held opposing positions on Syria, with Iran backing the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad and Turkey advocating his departure.

 

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said however, that despite differences Turkey and Iran “would strengthen cooperation for a lasting peace in Syria.”

 

Zarif said the two countries converged on the need “to maintain Syria’s territorial integrity, the need for the Syrian people to designate their own future.”

 

“We all need to stand against the extremism of (the Islamic State group) and al-Nusra,” he added.

 

The Iranian minister also welcomed recent moves by Turkey and Russia to patch up ties that were soured by Turkey’s downing of a Russian plane near the border with Syria in November.

 

“Iran always had good relations with both Turkey and Russia. All of the countries in the region must cooperate to bring peace in Syria and fighting against extremism,” Zarif said.

 

The ministers said they intend to expand trade between the two neighbors, including through the possible increase of natural gas sales to Turkey and more visits by Iranian tourists.

- See more at: http://www.sigmalive.com/en/news/international/147799/turkeyiran-to-increase-cooperation-in-syria#.dpuf

At a joint news conference, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif expressed his country’s support to Turkey over last month’s failed coup attempt by renegade officers within the military that left more than 270 people dead. Turkey has complained of a lack of solidarity from Western allies who have raised concerns over Turkey’s massive crackdown on alleged supporters of a movement led by US-based Muslim cleric Fetullah Gulen. Turkey accuses Gulen of orchestrating the coup.

 

“I congratulate the Turkish nation for the defiance they showed against the coup-plotters,” Zarif told reporters, in comments translated into Turkish. “They showed the people of the region that they would not allow democracy and their rights to be taken away from them through coups and the use of force.”

 

Turkey and Iran have held opposing positions on Syria, with Iran backing the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad and Turkey advocating his departure.

 

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said however, that despite differences Turkey and Iran “would strengthen cooperation for a lasting peace in Syria.”

 

Zarif said the two countries converged on the need “to maintain Syria’s territorial integrity, the need for the Syrian people to designate their own future.”

 

“We all need to stand against the extremism of (the Islamic State group) and al-Nusra,” he added.

 

The Iranian minister also welcomed recent moves by Turkey and Russia to patch up ties that were soured by Turkey’s downing of a Russian plane near the border with Syria in November.

 

“Iran always had good relations with both Turkey and Russia. All of the countries in the region must cooperate to bring peace in Syria and fighting against extremism,” Zarif said.

 

The ministers said they intend to expand trade between the two neighbors, including through the possible increase of natural gas sales to Turkey and more visits by Iranian tourists.

- See more at: http://www.sigmalive.com/en/news/international/147799/turkeyiran-to-increase-cooperation-in-syria#.dpuf

At a joint news conference, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif expressed his country’s support to Turkey over last month’s failed coup attempt by renegade officers within the military that left more than 270 people dead. Turkey has complained of a lack of solidarity from Western allies who have raised concerns over Turkey’s massive crackdown on alleged supporters of a movement led by US-based Muslim cleric Fetullah Gulen. Turkey accuses Gulen of orchestrating the coup.

 

“I congratulate the Turkish nation for the defiance they showed against the coup-plotters,” Zarif told reporters, in comments translated into Turkish. “They showed the people of the region that they would not allow democracy and their rights to be taken away from them through coups and the use of force.”

 

Turkey and Iran have held opposing positions on Syria, with Iran backing the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad and Turkey advocating his departure.

 

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said however, that despite differences Turkey and Iran “would strengthen cooperation for a lasting peace in Syria.”

 

Zarif said the two countries converged on the need “to maintain Syria’s territorial integrity, the need for the Syrian people to designate their own future.”

 

“We all need to stand against the extremism of (the Islamic State group) and al-Nusra,” he added.

 

The Iranian minister also welcomed recent moves by Turkey and Russia to patch up ties that were soured by Turkey’s downing of a Russian plane near the border with Syria in November.

 

“Iran always had good relations with both Turkey and Russia. All of the countries in the region must cooperate to bring peace in Syria and fighting against extremism,” Zarif said.

 

The ministers said they intend to expand trade between the two neighbors, including through the possible increase of natural gas sales to Turkey and more visits by Iranian tourists.

- See more at: http://www.sigmalive.com/en/news/international/147799/turkeyiran-to-increase-cooperation-in-syria#.dpuf