Erdogan vows Turkey will continue fight against IS in Syria

Turkey will never ease up in the fight against Islamic State (IS) group jihadists in Syria, despite its operations against Kurdish fighters seen as key to containing the extremists, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

"Turkey will never allow any weakness to arise in the fight against ISIS," Erdogan told him late Thursday, according to an overnight statement from his office, using an alternative acronym for IS.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told Blinken Turkey was committed to ensuring stability in Syria "as soon as possible" and "preventing ISIS" jihadists from gaining a foothold there.

On Thursday, Erdogan assured Blinken Turkey would never ease up in the fight against IS in Syria, despite its operations against Kurdish fighters seen as key to containing the extremists.

"Turkey will never allow any weakness to arise in the fight against ISIS," Erdogan said while vowing not to let up in its pursuit of groups Ankara sees as a threat to its national security.