Swathes of northern Syria cleared of Islamic State militants will become a "safe zone", Turkey's Foreign Minister said on Saturday, July 25, after Turkish warplanes pounded jihadist positions in a series of strikes.

"When areas in northern Syria are cleared of the (Islamic State) threat, the safe zones will be formed naturally," Mevlut Cavusoglu told a news conference, according to Reuters.

"We have always defended safe zones and no-fly zones in Syria. People who have been displaced can be placed in those safe zones," he said.