Mosul, Aleppo to 'set the course of anti-Daesh fight'

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmuş said yesterday that Iraq's Mosul and Syria's Aleppo are the two cities which will set the future course of the fight against Daesh.

"Turkey's thesis is that Mosul is one of the key cities in the fight against Daesh.

"Furthermore, Mosul's situation and how its future is going to be shaped is crucial for the establishment of a permanent peace in the region," Kurtulmuş told reporters in Ankara.

"Same for Aleppo. Aleppo and Mosul are the two cities which will set the future course of the fight against Daesh," he added.

The minister went on to say that avoiding sectarian fights in Mosul was one of Turkey's red lines, adding, "One of the red lines regarding Mosul is to stay away from any developments which might trigger a new sectarian conflict."

"As the region is cleared of Daesh, it is important that no other terrorist organization or armed group is allowed to enter. I want to underline that this is a vital matter," he said.