İncirlik Air Base in southern Turkey is a key base for the counter-Daesh coalition campaign in Syria
Ankara, which has repeatedly expressed its objection against the YPG's participation, during the ongoing talks with the Washington officials suggested that the Raqqa operation be conducted with the participation of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) along with local Arab and Kurdish elements.
İncirlik Air Base in southern Turkey is a key base for the counter-Daesh coalition campaign in Syria. It hosts six German Tornado aircraft and dozens of German troops as well as jets from the U.S., U.K., Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
We must fight Daesh at politics level: Syria opposition
Political steps must be taken alongside military operations with a view to eliminating the threat posed by the Daesh terrorist group, an advisor to Syria's pro-opposition interim government told Anadolu Agency. “If the international community wants to be rid of Daesh, they must attack it on all fronts," Momamed Wajih Juma, advisor to interim government Prime Minister Ahmad Tumah, said in an exclusive interview conducted in Turkey's southern city of Gaziantep. “This [the elimination of Daesh] can be accelerated by political resolutions taken in tandem with military operations," he added, noting that the latter remained underway in the northern Syrian cities of Manbij and Raqqa following the recent of liberation of Al-Bab city. Drawing a comparison between Daesh and the PYD (the PKK terrorist group's affiliate in Syria), Juma said: “The PYD in Raqqa is no different from Deash. What the PYD is to Manbij, Daesh is to Raqqa." He went on to lament the fact that Daesh in Syria was still successfully recruiting new members. “As long as the group continues to attract new recruits, the region will enjoy neither stability nor emancipation," he said. “But we can free the area with the help of local residents and the Free Syrian Army," he added, also voicing his appreciation for the U.S.-led coalition forces taking part in the fight against Daesh. Juma concluded by blaming both Iran and the Syrian regime for destabilizing the war-battered country. “Daesh, the PYD, the Assad regime and Iranian militias are causing many Syrians to suffer," he said. “Before Syrians can have a free country, we must first eliminate those involved [in causing instability]."
İncirlik Air Base is significant since refueling aircraft depart from the İncirlik Air Base to refuel F-14 warplanes in flight. The air base also hosts a significant number of patrol and discovery jets.
Turkish airspace is also crucial for the U.S. to continue fighting against Daesh in Syria and Iraq.
U.S. warplanes' flights to Syria and Iraq would be interrupted if Ankara close its airspace to American warplanes, particularly F-14s.
Erdoğan: Manbij is Turkey's next step in Syria operation
Turkey-backed opposition forces will move towards the northern Syrian town of Manbij after completing their operation in al-Bab as originally planned, Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan said on Tuesday.In a news conference in Ankara before embarking on an official visit to Pakistan, Erdoğan also said that YPG terrorists should be moved out to the east of the Euphrates river.Erdoğan also ruled out any chance of cooperation with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which includes the YPG terror group.
Ankara has been expressing its frustrations regarding U.S. support of the PYD, YPG and Syrian Defense Forces (SDF), which fight against Daesh.
The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and EU. Since Turkey considers the PYD to be a PKK affiliate, Ankara says Washington should not cooperate with it.
Previously, Turkish military sources verified that the U.S. did not conduct airstrikes in support of Operation Euphrates Shield in al-Bab. The postponement of the Raqqa operation provided an advantage to Daesh terrorists over Turkish soldiers.
US commander delivers weapons, holds talks with YPG terrorists
The support of the United States (US) to terrorist organizations continue as U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) commander, General Joseph Votel, visited the Kurdistan Workers' Party affiliated People's Protection Units and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) terrorists in the Syrian town of Kobane. Photos show Votel giving the YPG and SDF a weapons shipment talking about the Raqqa operation that to be conducted against Daesh terrorists soon. Photos also show that the weapons were delivered in Cougar 'MRAP' type armored vehicles. During his visit, Votel and the YPG and SDF agreed to concrete on Manbij where Turkish military-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters are to conduct an operation soon to drive the Democratic Union Party (PYD) from the town. Turkey to help Al-Bab residents return home: Army chief Votel's goes against Turkish officials, who have repeatedly expressed their determinism to join efforts to rescue Manbij and Raqqa from terrorist. "Turkey will conduct operations in Syria's Raqqa and Manbij, as these two Syrian cities are Turkey's priorities," Defense Minister Fikri Işık said. Trump to receive 'full range of options' to fight Daesh The minister also said Turkey and the U.S. will gain ground as long as the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump does not push for the Kurdistan Workers' Party- (PKK) affiliated PYD's People's Protection Units (YPG) to take part in the Raqqa operation. "If Washington wants the Raqqa operation to be successful, they need to carry it out with Arab elements rather than the PKK-affiliated YPG," Işık said.#Manbij Military Council members, today, where they reviewed recruit training in fight against #ISIS pic.twitter.com/ttt8XCbwtT— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) 25 Şubat 2017 The U.S. counter-Daesh strategy is significant for Turkey, as Ankara has been expressing its frustrations regarding U.S. support of the PYD, YPG and umbrella SDF against Daesh . The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and EU. Since Turkey considers the PYD to be a PKK affiliate, Ankara says Washington should not cooperate with it. The U.S. does not consider the PYD or YPG to be terrorist organizations.
The U.S. postponed the Raqqa operation and also suspended the Mosul operation, which was being conducted with the support from the YPG.
The anti-Daesh coalition is made up of 13 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Australia, Canada, Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands.
However, all of these countries have been inactive against Daesh since the Turkey-backed FSA launched Operation Euphrates Shield on August 24, 2016.