'YPG/PKK’s freeing Daesh members for money suits them'

On some reports about release of Daesh/ISIS prisoners by YPG/PKK terrorists for money, Turkish foreign minister said on Monday it is something that can be expected from a terror group.

Mevlut Cavusoglu’s remarks came at a joint press conference with his Bissau-Guinean counterpart Suzi Carla Barbosa.

"There are reports that the YPG/PKK terrorists were releasing the imprisoned Daesh/ISIS members for money. You can expect this from a terror group," Cavusoglu added.

Turkey and the U.S. shared information and exchanged opinion before the operation to kill Daesh/ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi started, he added.

On Turkey’s Operation Peace Spring which started on Oct. 9, Cavusoglu said pausing the operation "does not mean that Turkey will not do anything else about the remaining terrorists".

Turkey recognized Daesh/ISIS as a terrorist organization in 2013.

Since then, Turkey has been attacked by Daesh/ISIS terrorists numerous times, including in 10 suicide bombings, seven bombings, and four armed attacks.

These attacks killed 315 people, including 11 police officers and two soldiers -- and injured 137 civilians, 62 police officers and seven soldiers.

In response to these attacks, Turkey launched anti-terror operations at home and abroad.

In two cross-border military operations in Syria since 2016, Euphrates Shield and Olive Branch, Turkey neutralized 3,500 Daesh/ISIS terrorists and arrested 5,500.

Turkey has conducted three successful operations in northern Syria against the terrorist YPG/PKK and Daesh/ISIS, including Operation Euphrates Shield (2016-17), Operation Olive Branch (2018), and Operation Peace Spring.

Launched on Oct. 9, the anti-terror Operation Peace Spring aims to eliminate terrorist YPG/PKK elements from northern Syria east of the Euphrates River in order to secure Turkey’s borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees, and ensure Syria’s territorial integrity.

On Oct. 22, Ankara and Moscow reached a deal under which YPG/PKK terrorists will pull back 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) south of Turkey’s border with Syria within 150 hours, and security forces from Turkey and Russia will mount joint patrols there.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union -- has been responsible for the deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants. The YPG is the Syrian offshoot of the PKK.