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Turkey, US to provide air protection to Syrian rebels

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Turkey, US to provide air protection to Syrian rebels | Zee News


Ankara: Turkey and the US have agreed in "principle" to provide air protection to Syrian rebels being trained and equipped to fight Islamic State militants, once they enter Syrian territory for battle, Turkey's foreign minister said.


The two countries agreed in February to train and equip up to 15,000 Syrians under the USD 500 million US program designed to add a credible ground force to an air bombing campaign against the militant group.

The program suffered unexplained delays as the US resisted Turkish calls for the force to be also prepared to fight the Syrian regime and the sides tried to reach agreement on who to train.

The US has also refused a Turkish proposal for enforcing a safe area and a no-fly zone in Syria, prompting questions on how trained rebels would be protected when they entered Syria.

"They have to be supported via air," Mevlut Cavusoglu, the Turkish foreign minister told the pro-government Daily Sabah newspaper in comments published today. "If you do not protect them or provide air support, what is the point?"

Cavusoglu didn't provide further details on the air cover or confirm whether the air support would include the use of armed drones taking off from an air base in southern Turkey.

"These are technical details," Cavusoglu told Daily Sabah during a visit to Seoul. "There is a principle agreement on providing air support. How it is going to be provided is in the responsibility of the army."

US officials have said the aim is to train 5,000 Syrians a year for three years at a base in the central Turkish city of Kirsehir and at sites in Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

While resisting Turkish pressure for the rebels to also target Syrian regime forces, US officials have conceded that the recruits will have to defend themselves against all sides.

Cavusoglu said: "While the fight against (the Islamic State group) is prioritized, the regime must be also stopped."



PTI
 
I'm sure Turkey is going to target the regime. It seems like Turkey is only nation planning to help achieve rebel victory. Arab nations aren't doing much. They can't make up their mind on what they want. I doubt this will be implemented either way. The rebels have themselves and only themselves. So they should not sit on any promises and prepare the next large offensive as soon as possible.
 
I'm sure Turkey is going to target the regime. It seems like Turkey is only nation planning to help achieve rebel victory. Arab nations aren't doing much. They can't make up their mind on what they want. I doubt this will be implemented either way. The rebels have themselves and only themselves. So they should not sit on any promises and prepare the next large offensive as soon as possible.

Saudis are busy in Yeman, Egyptians in Libya,Sinai, Jordanians are on defensive mode.

Iraqis are fighting the Baathists of both Syria and Iraq. Syrian rebels are fighting Syrian Baath regime.

Turkey have been successful in bringing the Kurds on one platform in both Iraq and Syria parts. PKK have lost thier ground inside Turkey. Syrian Rebels are mixture of Arabs, Kurds,and Turkman .
 
IMO taking central and western Syria where government support is strong is next to impossible. All the Arab countries cannot beat Israel which is a tiny state of a few million Jewish people, so how can FSA take central and western Syria? Plus, if Turkish air force does get involved, Iran would supply American developed MIM-23 Hawk air defense missiles to Syria via Shia dominated Iraq. So personally I don't think a no fly zone over central and western Syria would work.
 
Look where Turks are right now !

They'd better learn from Pakistan .


Yes Turkey should learn from Pakistan and fvck Assad... we didn't allow Pakistan haters Govt in Afghanistan, Turkey should also do the same... even if it cost 100000 lives.. its still better then surrounded by enemies or its proxies:victory1:
 
The Turks need to be careful. ISIS have Turkey earmarked for the 'caliphate'. If they end up allowing ISIS to overrun Syria, no doubt they will then turn their attention to Lebanon and eventually all countries in the region including Turkey.
 
The Turks need to be careful. ISIS have Turkey earmarked for the 'caliphate'. If they end up allowing ISIS to overrun Syria, no doubt they will then turn their attention to Lebanon and eventually all countries in the region including Turkey.

:lol: funny guy. :lol:
 
IMO taking central and western Syria where government support is strong is next to impossible. All the Arab countries cannot beat Israel which is a tiny state of a few million Jewish people, so how can FSA take central and western Syria? Plus, if Turkish air force does get involved, Iran would supply American developed MIM-23 Hawk air defense missiles to Syria via Shia dominated Iraq. So personally I don't think a no fly zone over central and western Syria would work.
Government is strong only in Alawi areas: Tartus and Latakia.
 

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