US rejects Turkey’s request for no-fly zone in Syria border. (Bugun).
Turkey has agreed to allow the US to use its İncirlik airbase in Adana province, South Turkey, to conduct airstrikes against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
The efforts to narrow differences between Turkey and the US over the fight against ISIL was reported to have featured a key agenda item on the White House National Security Council meeting last week.
According to the Wall Street Journal in exchange the US has agreed to set up a safe zone in Syria’s northern border, open for refugees and moderate fighters training in Turkey; and off limits to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s army.
The US however has rejected Turkey’s request to establish a no fly zone which would cover 1/3 rd of Syria on grounds that it would imply all-out-war against Assad.
Turkey had long refused to engage in direct fighting versus ISIL, insisting that a plan to topple Syrian leader Assad would have to be on the table as a precondition. Most recently Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan urged the US Vice President Joe Biden to tackle the issue of Assad a week ago.
According to the Wall Street Journal Turkey is also considering writing a letter to the UN, referring to its right of self defense as a justification.
Even though the developments indicate that certain differences have been set aside a long term agreement between the US and Turkey is still far away according to US officials. Hmmm....Now you know why Hagel had to go After Biden's visit to Erdogan. Read the full story here.
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