Turkey said that it has beefed up security to prevent foreign fighters from using its soil as a transit route to Syria, media reported on Saturday.
“In this context, we are pursuing a considerable struggle,” Turkish Foreign Minister Efkan Ala said in a televised interview on Friday.
He noted that 700 people suspected of being linked to the Islamic State group had already crossed into Syria through Turkey.
“If we confirm that they committed crimes, we will do what is required when they come back. We have taken the necessary measures against them,” Mr. Ala clarified.
The Foreign Minister added that he discussed with the Interior Ministers of the European Union, the U.S. and Canada, the measures that should be taken on the border against foreign fighters seeking to join the IS.
Turkey, with help from the intelligence agencies of some countries, has updated a list of 10,000 people from 91 countries suspected of having IS connections.
“As many as 1,085 people from 74 countries have been detected after entering Turkey and they (have been) deported,” he added.
