ISTANBUL (REUTERS) - Turkey expects to swiftly eliminate the threat from Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) after launching an operation with United States-led coalition forces to sweep militants out of the Syrian border town of Jarablus, Interior Minister Efkan Ala said on Wednesday.

He told Anadolu Agency that the Turkish authorities had evacuated residents from the border town of Karkamis and six other villages as a precaution after the operation involving jets, artillary and special forces began on Wednesday morning.

He said Turkey would not allow militant groups to threaten the country, and sees the threat coming not just from ISIS but from other "terrorist" organisations.