The FSA rejoiced with Erdoğan's election victory.
The Free Syrian Army (FSA) celebrated Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s reelection by unfurling a giant poster bearing Erdoğan’s picture with the background of the Turkish and Syrian revolution flags on Mt. Dharmik.
Turkey held presidential and parliamentary elections on Sunday, in which President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was re-elected, with his Justice and Development (AK) Party gaining the majority of parliament seats.
The Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) had destroyed posters of Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) ringleader Abdullah Öcalan, which marked Mt. Dharmik since 2013.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel congratulated President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Monday on his presidential election win and expressed Germany’s readiness to further improve ties with Turkey. In a message sent to Erdoğan and released by her office, Merkel underlined that both countries were facing similar challenges due to the conflicts in the region.“The upheavals in the Near and Middle East, and the consequent refugee flows, are significantly affecting our two countries. In that respect, Turkey has taken great responsibility,” she said.Merkel underlined the traditionally friendly relations between Berlin and Ankara and also expressed support for stability and democracy in Turkey.African Muslim officials hail Erdoğan reelection“I am looking forward to working with you to further enhance and deepen cooperation between our countries,” she said.German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier also applauded the Turkish president and mentioned a potential probable high-level visit to accelerate bilateral ties. British Prime Minister Theresa May also congratulated Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on his latest election victory on Monday.NATO chief congratulates Erdoğan on election victoryMay called President Erdoğan and said she looked forward to further strengthen the bilateral relations between Turkey and the U.K., according to Turkish presidential sources.Erdoğan and May agreed to meet at the upcoming NATO summit in July in Brussels.In another telephone call, Turkish leaders received congratulations from Greece Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.Austrian politician calls for Turkish expats who voted for Erdoğan to leave country
European leaders congratulate Erdoğan on election win
Turkish warplanes annihilated the Öcalan silhouette as part of Operation Olive Branch, which was initiated on Jan. 20 to clear Syria’s northwestern Afrin of terror elements.
Mt. Dharmik was used as a PKK training camp for many years before it was liberated as part of Operation Olive Branch.
On March 18, Turkish troops and Free Syrian Army members liberated the town of Afrin, on the 58th day of the operation.
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and his Turkish counterpart Nurettin Canikli met as part of the ongoing dialogue regarding implementation of the Manbij Roadmap, the Pentagon said Monday.Pentagon spokesperson Adrian Rankine Galloway said the meeting was held last week and it also covered establishing security and stability near the city.Rankine Galloway told Anadolu Agency the talks were focused on the second phase of the Roadmap which involves joint patrol in Manbij.The roadmap was announced after a June 4 meeting in Washington between Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglu and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.Video: Turkish army completes third round of patrols in Syria's ManbijThe deal focuses on the withdrawal of the PKK-affiliated YPG terror group from the northern Syrian city of Manbij and on stability in the region.The Turkish General Staff said in a statement Sunday that both countries' forces conducted patrols separately in the area between the Operation Euphrates Shield region and Manbij according to the roadmap.The first patrols by Turkish and U.S. troops in the region began June 18.In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK has taken some 40,000 lives, including those of women and children. The YPG/PKK is its Syrian branch.Turkey has said the presence of terror forces near its border constitute a threat and has launched military operations and other efforts to rid the region of terrorists.
US, Turkey focus on second phase of Manbij Roadmap