Turkey ready to support Syria in managing Islamic State camps

Turkey is ready to provide support to the new Syrian administration for the management of Islamic State camps in the country, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Wednesday.

"As we have always said, we are also ready to provide the necessary assistance to the new administration in the management of DAESH camps and prisons," Fidan said, using the Arabic acronym for Islamic State.

Speaking in Ankara following his meeting with his Syrian counterpart Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, Fidan also said that Ankara was pleased with the determination of the new administration in the fight against terror.

Shibani said the extensive presence of U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces in parts of northern Syria "was no longer justified".

"We will not accept having any parts of Syria or northern Syria outside of the administration's control," he said.

In the joint press conference, Shibani said that the country's new administration would not allow Syrian land to be a source of threat to Turkey.

Since 2016, Turkey has mounted four military operations across growing swathes of northern Syria, citing threats to its national security.

Turkey is estimated to maintain a few thousand troops in towns including Afrin, Azez and Jarablus in northwestern Syria and Ras al Ain and Tel Abyad in the northeast.

Ankara said it may discuss and reevaluate the issue of Turkey's military presence in Syria with the new Syrian administration when necessary conditions arise.