UK suspends arms sales to Turkey

The United Kingdom has suspended sales of arms to Turkey for items that might be used in the country's military offensive in Syria, UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said.

He noted that the UK government takes its arm export control responsibilities very seriously. "We will keep our defence exports to Turkey under very careful and continual review," Sky News cited Raab as saying.

"No further export licences to Turkey for items that might be used in military operations in Syria will be granted while we conduct that review," the Foreign Secretary added.

On October 9, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced the launch of Operation Peace Spring in northern Syria, which began with airstrikes on Kurdish positions. The operation’s goal is to create a buffer zone along the Turkish border, where, according to Ankara, Syrian refugees residing in Turkey could return.