Erdoğan on Operation Peace Spring: Turkish-led forces have seized control of Ras al Ain, besieged Tel Abyad

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Sunday that Turkey's military and its Syrian rebel allies will advance 30-35 km (19-22 miles) into Syrian territory in their offensive against the YPG and Daesh terrorists and they have already seized control of the town of Ras al Ain.

Speaking at a news conference in Istanbul, Erdoğan said the Turkish-led forces had also besieged the Syrian border town of Tel Abyad.

"Turkey will not allow establishment of terrorist state in the northern region of Syria," Erdoğan stressed in his remarks.

Turkish leader also pointed out that they received the biggest support from Syrian Kurds during the cross-border military offensive dubbed "Operation Peace Spring".

At a Sunday press conference, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reiterated that #operationpeacespring aims to clear Turkey's borders from terrorists and ensure a safe return of Syrian refugees to their homes. pic.twitter.com/Zi9mYbacIy

— ANews (@anewscomtr) October 13, 2019

"The YPG -- the Syrian branch of bloody-minded PKK terror group -- fired 652 mortars, rockets at Turkish provinces of Şanlıurfa, Mardin, Şırnak, Gaziantep," the president also said.

Since the onset of Operation Peace Spring, at least 440 terrorists [YPG and Daesh militants] have been killed, another 26 got injured, and 24 others have been captured," Erdoğan added.

"At least 18 civilians most of them children were martyred in the YPG/PKK rocket attacks on Turkey's border provinces, and 147 others got injured."

He said also that two Turkish soldiers and 16 Turkey-backed Syrian rebels had been martyred in the ongoing military operation.