Yildirim: Operations in northern Syria not primarily aimed at Kurds

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim has denied that Turkey's invasion of northern Syria is primarily focused on targeting the pro-Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) and their allies.

"They either know nothing about the world, or else their job is to report a bare-faced lie," Yildirim said when asked to comment on claims the operation was not targeting Islamic State militants but Kurds. "Our soldiers' mission is to ensure our border security and the life and property of our citizens. The news apart from that is just a lie."

However, he told reporters on Friday that the operations would continue until Islamic State "and all other terror elements are cleared from the area".

"As Gazi [Republic founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk] said during the War of Independence, 'Either independence or death'," said Yildirim. "We will give the necessary response to these villains who targeted the fellowship and unity of 79 million people."