Turkey-backed Syrian rebel fighters return from the Syrian border town of Tal Abyad, as they are pictured on the Turkish-Syrian border in Akcakale, Turkey, October 19, 2019. REUTERS/Stoyan Nenov
ANKARA: Turkish interior minister said 41 Islamic State members were handed over to Turkey on Saturday following their release by YPG, the Syrian offshoot of the PKK terror group.
Speaking at an opening ceremony held in capital Ankara, Suleyman Soylu said Turkey has so far received a total of 236 IS members.
Minister Soylu went on to say that some of those released by the YPG/PKK terror group were women and children. "In line with our laws, the children will be referred to related institutions to ensure their protection,” he said.
Soylu said Turkey would accept them as IS-linked Turkish citizens.
He went on to say that Turkey neutralized over 3,000 Daesh terrorists during the country’s Euphrates Shield Operation in northern Syria, and Ankara did its utmost best against the terror group.
