“Then the ground will be safer for the moderate opposition that are fighting Daesh“.
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Nusra Front fighters in Syria. The Division 30 Syria headquarters was subsequently bombed by Assad’s warplanes.
“Now it is seen that Turkey’s (thesis) appears justified on T&E”, he told reporters.
But some analysts quickly noted that a leak wasn’t necessary. “The idea that Turkey, a key supporter of the Train and Equip Program, would seek to undermine its own interests in Syria is ludicrous”. He said the US has a team of military professionals in Turkey working with the Turkish military to work out the arrangements and the mechanisms for a joint air campaign. “Remember”, he said, “America has targeted Nusra with some airstrikes“.
Rebels from al-Qaida-affiliated Jabhat al-Nusra, also known as the Nusra Front, wave their brigade flag, as they step on the top of a Syrian air force helicopter. It is mainly consists of the fighters who fought with the US forces in Iraq and with the government of Bashar al-Assad in Syria. Turkish prosecutors who intercepted Syria-bound arms trucks said in their testimony that the arms were heading toward a territory held by Ahrar al-Sham.
Defense Secretary Ash Carter said last week that the Pentagon wanted Turkey “to do more in the fight” against Islamic State militants. “We’re going to continue to focus on them where they are”, he added.
Ankara is waging a two-pronged bombing campaign against Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) rebels as well as IS militants, following a wave of violence inside Turkey.
Turkey began policing its border more previous year, but has not cut ties with Ahrar and Nusra. Turkey believes the source of all chaos and violence in Syria lies with the regime in Damascus.
“Turkey is a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation ally, close friend of the United States and an important partner in the global coalition” against the Islamic State, he said in an email. The result has been fierce blowback from the PKK and anger from the US-backed YPG.
More on Kurd Watch can be found in the above video.
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He did not address the ISIS-free areas, but said the U.S. would be evaluating options on countering ISIS “including along its borders in a manner that promotes Turkey’s security and regional stability”.
