The military operation known as "Euphrates Shield" is now over, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim announced on Wednesday.

Yildirim said in an interview with a local broadcaster that from now on any Turkish military operations in Syria would be known by a new name, German news agency DPA reported.

His words came after a meeting with the country's national security council.

Turkey first launched "Euphrates Shield" back in August 2016 as part of an effort to clear out members of the so-called "Islamic State" (IS) terrorist group from a Syrian border town. Along with allied Syrian rebel groups, they also attacked Kurdish militia groups in the region.

No mention of troop withdrawals

Turkey-backed forces captured from the militants several towns in the region including Jarabulus, Al-Rai, Dabiq and Al-Bab. Turkish military forces sustained heavy casualties in the latter.

The operation now controls some 2,000 miles square km (1,242 miles) of northern Syria but longer shares any borders with IS-controlled areas.

The prime minister didn't mention anything about withdrawing troops from the controlled areas, some of which have been used to houe Syrian refugees.

blc/jm (Reuters, AFP, dpa)</s>Turkey has officially ended the "Euphrates Shield" military operation it launched in Syria last August, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Wednesday, but suggested there might be more cross-border campaigns to come.

Turkey sent troops, tanks and warplanes to support Free Syrian Army (FSA) rebels, push ISIL fighters away from its border and stop the advance of Kurdish militia fighters.

"Operation Euphrates Shield has been successful and is finished. Any operation following this one will have a different name," Yildirim said in an interview with broadcaster NTV.

Under Euphrates Shield, Turkey took the border town of Jarablus on the Euphrates river, cleared ISIL fighters from a roughly 100-km stretch of the border, then moved south to Al Bab, an ISIL stronghold where Yildirim said "everything is under control".

Turkish troops are still stationed in the secured regions and along the border, which amounts to nearly 2,000 sq km of Syrian territory. The number of Turkish troops involved in Euphrates Shield has not been disclosed.

One aim was to stop the Kurdish YPG militia from crossing the Euphrates westwards and linking up three mainly Kurdish cantons it holds in northern Syria.

Turkey fears the Syrian Kurds carving out a self-governing territory analogous to Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region will embolden Turkey's own large Kurdish minority to try to forge a similar territory inside its borders.

READ MORE - Al Bab: 'When the tide is turning, ISIL go apocalyptic'

It views the YPG as the Syrian extension of the Kurdish PKK group, which has fought an insurgency in Turkey's southeast since 1984 for greater autonomy and is considered a "terrorist" group by both the United States and European Union.

With the second largest army in NATO, Turkey is seeking a role for its military in a planned offensive on Raqqa, ISIL's self-proclaimed capital in Syria, but the US is veering towards enlisting the YPG as its main partner in the fight.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said Turkey wants to work with its allies to capture the ISIL stronghold, but will only do so barring the involvement of YPG.</s>ANKARA: Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım said during a televised interview on Wednesday that Operation Euphrates Shield against the Daesh terror organization had come to an end.

“From now on, if we take action against Daesh or anything else that threatens our security, it will be a new operation,” Yıldırım stated, underlining that if needed a new move would be named differently.

Ankara launched Operation Euphrates Shield inside Syria in late August of last year with Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) forces and recaptured several towns near its border from Daesh, including Jarablus, al-Rai, Dabiq and al-Bab. The operation dealt a heavy blow to the terrorist group’s dominance in Syria.

Yıldırım also said that the United States should give a more satisfying answer regarding reports of its Istanbul consulate calling the mastermind behind the coup attempt Adil Öksüz.

The U.S. embassy previously confirmed that its Istanbul consulate placed a call to Öksüz, the fugitive mastermind of the July 15 coup attempt blamed on the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ), saying it was to inform him of a “visa cancellation.”

“As a direct result of close U.S.-Turkish law enforcement cooperation, a call from the U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul to a phone belonging to Adil Öksüz on July 21, 2016 did occur. On that day, the Turkish National Police called the U.S. Mission in Turkey to request our assistance in preventing Adil Öksüz from fleeing Turkey. We then revoked his U.S. visa and, as required by U.S. law, tried to call him to inform him of the cancellation,” a written statement released by the U.S. embassy in Ankara said.</s>the Turkish National Security Council has announced. The NSC meeting on Wednesday was attended by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan."It was noted that the Operation 'Euphrates Shield' which was started with the(Arabic acronym for Islamic State)the NSC said in a statement The conclusion of the Euphrates Shield operation was also confirmed by Turkey's Prime Minister, Binali Yildirim. The PM told the NTV broadcaster the operation had been successful and that further Turkish military actions would be conducted under a different name.Turkey launched the Euphrates Shield operation on August 24, 2016, with the aim of(IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) and— both classed as terrorist organizations by Ankara. In the course of the operation Turkey has been supporting the Free Syrian Army (FSA) on the ground.The Syrian government has criticized the presence of Turkish troops as an "act of aggression" and asked the UN Security Council toThe official announcement of the conclusion of the Euphrates Shield operation came a day before the US Secretary of State visits Turkey.is expected to meet with Erdogan and other Turkish officials in Ankara on Thursday, where he is expected toRelations between Washington and Ankara have been strained recently over US support for the Syrian Kurds whom Donald Trump called the most effective forces against Islamic State.Last week, Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus reiterated that his country's'in the battle for RaqqaThe timing of the announcement sends "a very important message to the US," Cengiz Tomar, professor of political history and international relations at Marmara University, told RT. "Turkey for a long time has beenrelated to the Raqqa offensive," he said, adding that by this move,ahead of Tillerson's visit.According to Tomar,now because it hasn't yet completed all its objectives regarding the Kurds, but it can't act in the country on its own due to the presence of the Russian and US militaries there.</s>Ankara called time on Turkey's military campaign in northern Syria on Wednesday, with the country's national security council declaring the offensive had "concluded successfully."

However, it is unclear whether that conclusion entails a complete end to military operations or a withdrawal of Turkish troops from the country, AFP reports .

Speaking on Turkey's private NTV television, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim did not rule out further offensives: "Euphrates Shield is over. A potential operation from now if needed will take another name," Yildirim said, using the name accorded to the year and a half long military campaign.

"From now on if there is anything that threatens our security, either Daesh or any other [group] and if we take another action, that will be a new operation," he added. Daesh is an alternative name for the Islamic State (ISIS).

Turkey's operation Euphrates Shield targeted both ISIS militants and Syrian Kurdish militia fighters that Ankara deems terrorists.

The operation has resulted in the expunging of militants from Syrian towns including Jarabulus, Al-Rai, Dabiq — which is of symbolic importance to ISIS — and the strategic town of Al-Bab, where Turkey endured heavy casualties.</s>The Turkish military has successfully completed its 'Euphrates Shield' operation in northern Syria, the Turkish National Security Council has announced.

The NSC meeting on Wednesday was attended by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

"It was noted that the Operation 'Euphrates Shield' which was started with the goal of ensuring national security, preventing the threat from Daesh (Arabic acronym for Islamic State) and return of Syrian refugees to their homes has successfully completed," the NSC said in a statement.

The conclusion of the Euphrates Shield operation was also confirmed by Turkey’s Prime Minister, Binali Yildirim.

The PM told the NTV broadcaster the operation had been successful and that further Turkish military actions would be conducted under a different name.

Turkey launched the Euphrates Shield operation on August 24, 2016, with the aim of clearing the border with Syria of Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) and Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) forces — both classed as terrorist organizations by Ankara.

In the course of the operation Turkey has been supporting the Free Syrian Army (FSA) on the ground.

READ MORE: Manbij crossfire: Liberated from IS, Kurdish-controlled city now fears Turkish invasion (EXCLUSIVE)

The Syrian government has criticized the presence of Turkish troops as an “act of aggression” and asked the UN Security Council to “force Turkey to withdraw its invasion forces.”

The official announcement of the conclusion of the Euphrates Shield operation came a day before the US Secretary of State visits Turkey.

Rex Tillerson is expected to meet with Erdogan and other Turkish officials in Ankara on Thursday, where he is expected to discuss the operation to retake the Islamic State capital of Raqqa and other issues regarding Syria.

Relations between Washington and Ankara have been strained recently over US support for the Syrian Kurds whom Donald Trump called the most effective forces against Islamic State.

READ MORE: Turkey refuses to join US-led offensive on ISIS-held Raqqa if Kurds involved

Last week, Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus reiterated that his country’s’ forces won’t take part in the battle for Raqqa if the Kurds are also involved.

The timing of the announcement sends “a very important message to the US,” Cengiz Tomar, professor of political history and international relations at Marmara University, told RT.

“Turkey for a long time has been waiting for the American decision related to the Raqqa offensive,” he said, adding that by this move, Ankara “persuades them to go to Raaqa with the Turks” ahead of Tillerson’s visit.

According to Tomar, “Turkey is in a very difficult situation in Syria” now because it hasn’t yet completed all its objectives regarding the Kurds, but it can’t act in the country on its own due to the presence of the Russian and US militaries there.</s>Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended the meeting of the Turkish National Security Council.

"It was noted that the Operation 'Euphrates Shield' which was started with the goal of ensuring national security, preventing the threat from Daesh and return of Syrian refugees to their homes has successfully completed," the statement by the Turkish National Security Council read.

The campaign was the first Turkey's incursion into Syria, however, earlier Turkish forces attacked Kurdish positions in Syria from its side of the border. The operation has been widely criticized both by the Syrian Kurds and Damascus, who have accused Ankara of violating Syria's territorial integrity.

As Jarabulus was retaken, the joint forces of Ankara, the coalition and Syrian rebels continued the offensive southwest.

In the end of February, Chief of the Turkish General Staff Hulusi Akar said that the city of al-Bab was under control and the goals of the Euphrates Shield operation in Syria had been achieved.

During the operation to liberate al-Bab from Daesh, Russian and Turkish military aircraft have repeatedly jointly bombed Daesh targets for the first time. The joing campaign was approved by the Syrian authorities.

Al-Bab is one of Daesh’s last remaining strongholds near the Turkish border. Capturing the city is of strategic importance to Turkey in order to prevent the Syrian Kurds taking it and unifying their own territories.</s>BEIRUT, LEBANON (10:40 P.M.) – The Turkish Army and their rebel allies have announced the conclusion of Operation Euphrates Shield after more than six months of sporadically attacking the Islamic State (ISIL), Kurdish forces, and Syrian Arab Army (SAA).

Since launching this operation, the Turkish-led forces have captured the northern Aleppo cities of Jarabulus and Al-Bab from the Islamic State terrorist group.

However, during Operation Euphrates Shield, the Turkish Armed Forces often targeted the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) around the Afrin Canton of northern Aleppo, causing many observers of the war to question the Erdogan regime’s intentions.

With the conclusion of this military operation, the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and their Islamist allies that were participating in this battle will likely go to the front-lines in northern Hama and western Aleppo in order to aid their allies fighting the Syrian Arab Army.</s>Turkey’s Prime Minister Binali Yildirim on Wednesday said the country had ended military operation “Euphrates Shield” against the Islamic State in Syria. Since the launch of the operation in August 2016, Ankara had deployed several troops, tanks and warplanes to assist Free Syrian Army rebels. Calling the programme successful, Yildrim said any more operations in the region will be held under a different name, Reuters reported.

The operation also aimed at curbing the influence of Kurdish insurgents in the area. During the operation, Turkey seized control of Jarablus on the Euphrates river and pushed the Islamic State group away from a 100-kilometre border stretch. They even moved south towards the extremist group’s stronghold of al-Bab. “Everything is under control,” the prime minister said of the situation in al-Bab, the news agency reported.

Yildirim did not specify if the troops would withdraw from their post, BBC reported.

Turkey is worried that a movement by Syrian Kurds would lead to a self-governing region similar to an autonomous rule secured by Kurds in Iraq and thereby influence the Kurdish minority within its own territory to initiate a similar rule. Turkey has criticised the United States and Russia’s collaboration with the Syrian YPG, which it considers to be an extension of the militant Kurdistan Workers Party or PKK.

Turkey, the United States and European Union have listed the PKK as a terrorist organisation. The outfit has been blamed for a number of attacks that have taken place in the country since the decades-long ceasefire between it and the government collapsed in July.</s>Turkey has ended the “Euphrates Shield” military operation it launched in Syria last August, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Wednesday, but suggested there might be more cross-border campaigns to come. Turkey sent troops, tanks and warplanes to support Free Syrian Army (FSA) rebels, push Islamic State fighters away from its border and stop the advance of Kurdish militia fighters.

“Operation Euphrates Shield has been successful and is finished. Any operation following this one will have a different name,” Yildirim said in an interview with broadcaster NTV. Under Euphrates Shield, Turkey took the border town of Jarablus on the Euphrates river, cleared Islamic State fighters from a roughly 100-km (60-mile) stretch of the border, then moved south to al-Bab, an Islamic State stronghold where Yildirim said “everything is under control”.

Turkish troops are still stationed in the secured regions and along the border. The number of Turkish troops involved in Euphrates Shield has not been disclosed. One aim was to stop the Kurdish YPG militia from crossing the Euphrates westwards and linking up three mainly Kurdish cantons it holds in northern Syria.

Turkey fears the Syrian Kurds carving out a self-governing territory analogous to Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish region, a move that might embolden Turkey’s own large Kurdish minority to try to forge a similar territory inside its borders. It views the YPG as the Syrian extension of the Kurdish PKK militant group, which has fought an insurgency in Turkey’s southeast since 1984 and is considered a terrorist group by both the United States and European Union.

With the second largest army in NATO, Turkey is seeking a role for its military in a planned offensive on Raqqa, one of Islamic State’s two de facto capitals along with Mosul in Iraq -but the United States is veering towards enlisting the YPG. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has said Turkey is saddened by the U.S. and Russian readiness to work with the YPG in Syria.

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Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım announces an end to the operation Euphrates Shield, which was part of international military operations against ISIL. He adds: "Any operation following this one will have a different name."