Turkey retaliates against ISIS with major ground offensive

Turkish prime minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, announced on 14 January that the country’s security forces had begun a major operation against ISIS in retaliation for the deadly suicide bomb attack in Istanbul on 12 January. Davutoglu said that 200 ISIS fighters had been killed in attacks that had struck at more than 500 of the group’s known positions, although these claims have not been verified. Turkey has previously been accused of failing to do enough to target ISIS. Davutoglu was however keen to show his country’s fresh commitment, and announced that: “We will press ahead with our determined struggle until the Daesh terrorist organization leaves Turkey’s borders, and until it loses its ability to continue with its acts that soil our sacred religion, Islam.” In reality however, it is unclear whether Turkey can be involved in conflict on two of its borders; Turkish forces are stretched as they continue a campaign against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which has escalated in recent months.

ISTANBUL — Turkish ground forces have launched a major offensive against Islamic State targets in Iraq and Syria in retaliation for a suicide bombing that killed 10 German tourists in Istanbul this week, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Thursday.

Nearly 200 militants were killed by Turkish tank and artillery fire, which struck at least 500 of the group’s positions over the last 48 hours, said Mr. Davutoglu, addressing Turkish ambassadors in the capital, Ankara.

It was not immediately clear how the government had verified the number of militants killed. The prime minister did not say whether there were any Turkish casualties, or elaborate on the locations of the Islamic State targets.

A suicide bomber identified as a Syrian citizen and Islamic State operative struck in the heart of the Sultanahmet tourist district in Istanbul on Tuesday, killing 10 people and wounding at least 15. It was the first time the group had attacked tourists in Turkey.