Turkey: We Won’t Allow US to Attack ISIL from Our Airbases

Thursday, 11 September 2014

Turkey: We Won’t Allow US to Attack ISIL from Our Airbases

Local Editor

Turkey refused on Thursday US permission for combat missions against the Takfiri group operating in neighboring Iraq and Syria.

A government official said Ankara will not allow a US-led coalition to attack ISIL from its air bases, nor will it take part in combat operations against the Takfiri militants.

Turkkish flag

"Turkey will not be involved in any armed operation but will entirely concentrate on humanitarian operations," the official said on condition of anonymity.

"Incirlik will be used only for logistical purposes and humanitarian assistance", the source, referring to a southern air base used for US and NATO operations in Iraq.

Turkey has come under fire by some critics for indirectly encouraging the formation of ISIL because of its support of extremists militants fighting the Syrian government.

But Ankara vehemently denies its strategy has backfired.

US Secretary of State John Kerry was holding talks in Saudi Arabia on Thursday to drum up support from 10 key Arab nations and Turkey, following President Barack Obama's announcement of a new strategy against ISIL that will include now air strikes in Syria.

Turkey now sees itself a victim of the ISIL with Takfiri militants holding 49 Turks hostage, including diplomats and children, abducted from the Turkish consulate in Mosul in Iraq on June 11.

"Our hands and arms are tied because of the hostages," the official told AFP.
"Turkey will not take part in any combat mission, nor supply weapons."

Though Turkey will refuse use of Incirlik Air Base for lethal air attacks in any US-led operation, it can be used for logistical and humanitarian operations, the official said.