© AFP 2016/ BARAA AL-HALABI
In an interview with Sputnik, Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighter Cumha Yasin signaled the FSA's willingness to continue its offensive in northern Syria, where it hopes to gain control of the cities of Al-Bab and Manbij.
The interview came after the Turkish General Staff said in a statement that FSA units had managed to push 'terrorists' from 10 villages to the south of Syrian town of Jarabulus, which was earlier liberated from Daesh (ISIS/ISIL) by Turkish and FSA troops.
The statement did not specify whether the terrorists were members of Daesh or Kurdish YPG militants fighting under the aegis of the Syrian Democratic Forces. Turkey claims the Syrian Kurdish YPG (People's Protection Units) is linked to the Kurdish Workers' Party, which Ankara considers a terrorist organization.
© Sputnik/ Hikmet DurgunCumha Yasin
"After that, we plan to move to Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor to drive Daesh out of these cities," the 24-year-old added in an interview that took place at a FAS training camp in the village of Keklice to the west of the Turkish border town of Karkamis.
Yasin, who told Sputnik that he's fought against the jihadists and the government troops for two years now, underscored the importance of Jarabulus being liberated from Daesh.
"I'm going to enter Syrian territory to join the fight against Daesh and the YPG. The liberation of Jarabulus is a very important victory that boosted our morale for a further offensive in the region. As for Turkey, it has rendered considerable logistical, military and air support to us," he said.
Turkey launched its offensive, formally known as Operation Euphrates Shield, early on August 24 to cleanse the border area around Jarabulus of Daesh and prevent the Syrian Kurds from occupying the critical border city on the west bank of the Euphrates river on the Turkish border and advancing further west.
Ankara maintains that both pose a major security threat to the well-being of the Turks.
The Syrian Kurds, for their part, suspect that something was fishy about Ankara's military incursion into the neighboring nation. They point to the fact that Turkish armed forces and the FSA were able to push Daesh out of Jarabulus within hours, despite previous unsuccessful attempts to free the border town since 2013.
Abd Salam Muhammad Ali, a representative of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) in Russia, told the Russian online newspaper Vzglyad that the Turkish troops that took control of Jarabulus had encountered almost no resistance.
"Judging from how fast this 'liberation' took place, I have grounds to believe that this is a show. The militants shaved off their beards and rushed to join 'moderates,'" he said.
The Free Syrian Army, a Syrian opposition group, was formed at the outset of the civil war in Syria on July 29, 2011. It was founded by officers of the Syrian Armed Forces who said that their goal was to topple the Assad government.
Although long touted by Western leaders as a force which could vanquish both Syria's government and Daesh, it has worked alongside jihadist organizations such as Jabhat Fateh al-Sham (the former Nusra Front) and Qatar/Saudi-backed Ahrar al-Sham.
Erdo seems to be inviting a regime change... isn't he aware of that? Words are worthless when actions scream so loudly.