Turkish forces have killed 3,000 Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says, insisting no other country has matched its efforts against the extremists.
In an address Wednesday to Balkan nations' military chiefs, Erdogan denounced those who accused Turkey of supporting the Islamic State group.
"There have been those who have ... been vile by showing Turkey as a country that helps Daesh," he said, using another name for the extremist group. He said no other country has struggled as Turkey has.
NATO member Turkey reluctantly joined the U.S.-led, anti-IS coalition and has faced criticism that it's not doing enough to protect its borders from fighters moving into Europe. But Turkey says it needs more help from Western allies, particularly near the Syrian border where Turkish territory has been targeted by rocket fire.
