Ankara’s main opponents – terrorists and Bashar al-Assad – Independent Newspaper

For Ankara, the main opponents –
 terrorists and Bashar al-Assad

Turkey strengthens its group in the border area. Photo: Reuters Photo Reuters

 

yesterday the Turkish parliament considered the government’s request for an extension of sanctions to the armed forces to carry out cross-border military operations. As announced on the eve of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey will take part in the campaign against terrorism without abandoning the goal of the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad. According to Reuters, Ankara throws tanks to the Syrian border.

  
 

Erdogan spoke in parliament explaining Ankara’s approach to the ongoing regional campaign against terrorism “Islamic state.” At the same time he criticized the current air campaign as the lack of an international coalition, and made it clear that it should not detract from the important goals as the removal from power of President Bashar al-Assad.

  
 

«Tons of bombs only exacerbate the threat and danger – said Erdogan. – We are open and ready for any cooperation in the fight against terrorism. However, everyone should understand that Turkey is not a country which is seeking temporary solutions will not allow Turkey to use it ».

  
 

According to the Turkish president said his country directly affected by the conflict in neighboring countries. “The number of refugees from Syria and Iraq, came to us, to 1.5 million people, – he said. – We spent them $ 4.5 billion. We do not ethnic or religious differences, taking refugees, and look at them as ordinary people ».

  
 

Saying that Ankara has no territorial claims against anyone, Erdogan said that the government wanted the mandate for the army provides for a solution to the armed forces “in case of need to fight and carry out cross-border operations, and send it to the military overseas.”

  
 

As previously reported, on the Syrian side of the border in recent years were intense fighting between militants of the “Islamic state” and the Syrian Kurds. There was a large influx of refugees in Turkey. At first Turkish border guards even the whole day people were not allowed into their territory, but we tried to ensure their safety. Then let the refugees in Turkey. As observers believe, is the influx of refugees from Syria has pushed Ankara on a stronger role in the conflict.

  
 

«We will fight effectively against the” Islamic state “and other terrorist organizations in the region, it will always be our priority – said Erdogan. – We will also be considered as a priority objective the elimination of the current Syrian regime in order to protect the territorial integrity of Syria and facilitate the establishment of a constitutional, parliamentary system that will serve all citizens. ”

  
 

The Washington Post, in its communication of Ankara notes that the revised legislation, providing the armed forces permission to cross-border transactions, in contrast to the previous contains wording to allow foreigners to use Turkish territory in the course of military operations against terrorists. The newspaper explained that this would allow the United States to use the airfield at Incirlik to conduct air operations of the international coalition. In addition, the publication draws attention to the fact that the Turkish authorities did not have a relationship with the Syrian Kurds, partially switched over to the Turkish territory under pressure from militants IG. Kurds allegedly believe that Ankara helped IG.

  
 

What accounts for the observed now transfer the Turkish troops in the border area with Syria? Can not throw this country into conflict its ground forces, the second-largest in NATO? In answering these questions, “NG”, the deputy head of the Center for Asia and the Middle East of the Russian Institute for Strategic Studies Anna Glazov drew attention to the fact that the current Turkish government very cautious monitoring the situation in neighboring countries, where the IG is expanding its zone of control, despite aerial bombardment. Initially, Ankara did not participate in the international coalition and did not give permission to use a coalition of the American air base at Incirlik. It has caused more and more increasing criticism from its allies.

  
 

At the same time, Turkey has created a serious problem of the influx of refugees from Syria and Iraq, especially with the advent of militant IG. Then Ankara had to join the coalition. According to Glazov, Ankara is likely to create a buffer zone on the Syrian side of the border, and it relies on the support of this step partners. At the same time, the Turkish authorities are unlikely to change skeptical assessment of how being a military campaign against the IG. Ankara’s behavior does not portend that it is now ready to give her the necessary international coalition land component in the fight against the IG.