The US-led international coalition fighting Daesh is devoid of any plan to defeat the jihadist organization, the Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said while reiterating Ankara’s unease over Washington’s support for the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD).
“The anti-Daesh coalition is paying the price for its weak approach. I still don’t think they have a plan to defeat Daesh,” Kurtulmus said.
“We have always talked with Americans and our other allies that the region close to Turkey to the west of Jarablus constitutes a national security line for Turkey. We have told them that if the PYD or Daesh crosses this point, it would threaten Turkey’s security. Unfortunately, this sensitivity of ours has not been seriously addressed,” Kurtulmus stressed.
The deputy prime minister reiterated that Turkey would not remain indifferent when rockets are falling on its border towns.
“At the end, it’s a decision that the US will make. Meaning, will it continue its long-standing NATO alliance or will it establish new alliance with forces which are known to be against Turkey?” Kurtulmus asked.
A joint operation by Turkish and American special forces against Daesh inside Syria could take place, he said, without giving details. “A joint operation could be conducted to protect the Turkish border, only if necessary. This should not be interpreted that it will be carried out today or tomorrow. There is a given decision but we aren’t talking about its implementation,” the Hurriyet Daily News cited him as saying.
