(CNN) - Turkey's president says a military operation in northern Syria is a national security issue for his country.
The operation underway in Idlib Province is aimed at establishing a de-escalation zone.
In a speech to his party, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the operation against al-Qaida-linked fighters is part of an agreement among Turkey, Russia and Iran.
The Syrian civil war has killed tens of thousands of people, and displaced millions. U.S. military assets are taking part in separate military offensives in Syria aimed at defeating ISIS.
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