Turkey: US acted in accordance to alliance in Idlib op

ANKARA

Before and during its operation in northwestern Syria that killed a terrorist ringleader, the U.S. acted "within the spirit of Alliance and strategic partnership" in the fight primarily against the Daesh and PKK/YPG terror groups, Turkey's National Defense Ministry said Sunday.

Underlining that U.S. and Turkish military officials coordinated and exchanged information prior to the operation on Saturday, the ministry said in a statement that Ankara warned its forces and "took timely measures to ensure operational and personnel security," on the basis of "interoperability and prevention of mutual interference with US elements."

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the man who led the Daesh terror organization as it swept up large swaths of Iraq and Syria, was killed in a U.S. night-time raid in northwestern Syria, U.S. President Donald Trump announced Sunday.

Trump thanked Turkey, Russia, Syria and Iraq for their cooperation in the raid, further saying Ankara was "terrific", and noting U.S. forces "flew over" some Turkish territory during the mission.

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 deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants. The YPG is the Syrian offshoot of the PKK.