Turkey plays its part in fighting Isis | Letter from the Turkish embassy in London
As an active member of the anti-Daesh coalition, and being far from indifferent, Turkey’s substantial contributions to the prevention of supplies and curbing the flow of foreign fighters in line with the international efforts are a well-known fact (Turkey’s leaders sat back as Isis took hold. Now its people are paying the price, 23 August). Turkey has participated in the coalition’s military campaign planning from day one, and has allowed its airbases and airspace to be used by coalition aircraft for both combat and non-combat roles, including intelligence gathering and personnel recovery. Moreover, Turkey has been striking Daesh targets since the beginning through air, artillery and other assets, and has eliminated more than 1,300 Daesh elements in Syria and Iraq. Turkey’s efforts to clear Daesh from its borders and ultimately defeat this threat in its close neighbourhood will continue unabated. This must be evident from the operation launched today by the Turkish armed forces.
Joe Biden reassured Ankara, but it is unclear how Washington’s Kurdish proxies will react to his demand that they step back
Turkish tanks have moved rapidly through the Syrian town of Jarablus on Wednesday, ousting Islamic State from one of its last border strongholds – but the most important outcome in Ankara’s eyes was beating the US-backed Kurdish fighters in a race to seize the surrounding area.
Erdoğan’s purge of ex-allies blamed for failed coup bid has its critics, but many Turks remember the ruthless rise of the cleric’s followers
In 2008, his last year of military high school in the western city of Bursa, Mehmet Koç noticed that things were changing in the Turkish army. The school had just been handed over from the army to the air force, and a new group of commanders took over the education of the cadets.
- State Department did not specify what the Turkish cleric was being sought for
- Joe Biden expected to meet Erdoğan on Wednesday in wake of foiled plot
The US has confirmed it has received a formal extradition request from Ankara for the Turkish cleric Fethullah Gülen, but not over the July coup attempt the Turkish authorities has accused Gülen of orchestrating.
European commission due to report on whether Turkey has done enough to gain visa-free travel to Schengen zone