ISTANBUL: A Turkish-backed offensive by Syrian rebels to take the Syrian town of al-Bab from ISIS should be finished soon, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday.

In a televised speech, Erdogan also said he was determined that other areas of Syria, including the town of Manbij, should be cleared by the Turkish-backed forces, referring to a town 50 km (30 miles) east of al-Bab.