“In principle, we support Raqqa and the other Syrian cities being cleansed from Daesh, but as we said before, we have principles and conditions on the issue”, Kalin said, using an Arabic name for Islamic State.
Advertisement
The minister said Turkey’s aspiration was that the Free Syrian Army and “moderate opposition” clear out Daesh and the YPG. “Local politics have finally caught up with the American campaign against ISIS”, Barfi said.
The Turkish military launched a cross-border operation on August 24 named Operation Euphrates Shield along with the USA -led coalition in northern Syria to clear the area of DAESH terrorists.
Speaking to reporters in the central city of Eskişehir, Işık said: “We are providing and will continue to provide all kinds of needed support for the Free Syrian Army (FSA), but as of today we do not have any plans to participate in the operation with our infantry”. The scheme was discussed at the National Security Council, at a time when the White House examines proposals to accelerate the fight against terrorism, and according to the publication group, the president seeks to carry out an offensive to isolate ISIS in its stronghold in the province of Raqqa, in northern Syria. “But there are no plans to involve the infantry of Turkish armed forces in these operations”, added Isik.
Advertisement
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said before heading to the U.N. General Assembly in NY this week that Turkey could push further south to create a 5,000-square-kilometer (1,900 square-mile) safe zone in Syria.
