Erdogan arrows also focuses on IS stronghold Raqqa

ankara - The aim of the Turkish military incursion into Syria is not only to recapture the strategically important town of al-Bab, but also expelling Islamic State from the border. 'The ultimate goal is to wipe an area of ​​5,000 square kilometers,' said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday.

The area mentioned by Erdogan is among other jihadists stronghold Raqqa. Turkish troops and occupied by Ankara-backed insurgents since August last year with the creation of a buffer zone in Syria. She called last week to several suburbs of the northern al-Bab, which is owned by IS.

Turkey wants in northern Syria to create a 'safe zone' for civilians. Erdogan claims to have offered to take care of the infrastructure in that area. That should allow Syrian refugees to return to their homes and prevent new refugee flows.