Turkey takes measures against refugee flows from Iraq, Syria

Turkey said Oct. 17 that it was taking necessary measures against a possible refugee influx from Iraq and Syria, as an operation was launched to take Iraq's Mosul back from jihadists and Turkey-backed Syrian rebels indicated their next target was Syria's al-Bab following the capture of Dabiq on Oct. 16.

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmuş said Oct. 17 that Turkey could end up hosting hundreds of thousands of people fleeing the Iraqi city of Mosul if the U.S.-backed operation against jihadist groups is conducted incorrectly, adding that terrorist attacks could also increase as a result of the offensive.

"If something goes wrong in Mosul, the only place for hundreds of thousands of devastated people to go to will be Turkey. Turkey is ready for that, but our concern is not to cause any distress to local people to force them to flee their country," Kurtulmuş said Oct. 17 after a cabinet meeting.

Kurtulmuş's statement came as the United Nations warned that clashes in Mosul could push around 100,000 locals to leave their homes for Turkey and Syria. 

"The UNHCR is concerned that events in Mosul may cause up to 100,000 Iraqis to flee toward Syria and Turkey," Reuters quoted the UNHCR as saying. "Preparedness plans are underway in Syria to receive up to 90,000 Iraqi refugees."

The deputy prime minister stated that the operation aiming to liberate Mosul from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) had been advancing in accordance with Turkey's general expectations. 

"The operation is advancing in accordance with Turkey's general outlook, but we are prepared to take precautions against any unexpected developments," he said. "If external forces which do not belong to the city, such as Hashd al-Shaabi or the...