Turkey-backed forces continue advance in northern Syria: Defence ministry source

Ankara: Turkey-backed rebel forces are continuing their advance to "clear terrorism" in northern Syria, a Turkish defence ministry source said on Thursday, referring to the forces' battle against a Kurdish militia in the region.

Turkey has been telling the United States repeatedly that "a terrorist organisation cannot be eliminated by using another terrorist organisation," the source also said.

The source was speaking about US support for the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the fight against Islamic State. The SDF is spearheaded by a Kurdish militia that Ankara regards as a terrorist group.