US, Turkey coordinate military attacks against ISIL

World Today

District of Gazi in Istanbul, on July 26, 2015. AFP PHOTO / OZAN KOSE

A U.S. official confirms that talks are underway with Turkey to deepen Turkish military efforts in the fight against ISIL, along the Turkey-Syria border.

“This will ensure greater security and stability along Turkey’s border with Syria, and will support the overall coalition effort to degrade and defeat ISIL in Syrian and Iraq,” said an unnamed official. The official insisted on anonymity because this person was not authorized to publicly discuss the talks with Turkey.

ISIL still controls around 110 kilometers along the Turkey-Syria border. Both the Americans and the Turks want ISIL cleared away from the Syrian side of the border.
The unnamed official tells CCTV News there are no plans for a no-fly zone, though the region will be a defacto no-fly zone because only coalition aircraft are flying there.

CCTV's Cody Jastromb

“We continue to talk to the Turks about how to better cooperate along that border against ISIL and we’ll continue to do that. I don’t have any announcements today about what that’s going to entail,” said U.S. State department spokesperson, Admiral John Kirby.

Last Friday, Turkey gave U.S. fighter jets access to its Incirlik Air Base near Syria to begin the strikes. Turkish warplanes began their strikes last Friday.
The Turks are looking to clear the zone to house nearly two-million Syrian refugees who have fled their violent homeland into Turkey.
Officials there began to leak the outlines of the talks over the weekend.

“When areas in northern Syria are cleared of the (ISIL) threat, the safe zones will be formed naturally.” said Turkish Foreign Minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu Saturday.

US-backed Kurdish fighters in Syria control most of the region and are a key force against ISIL. They’re also aligned with another Kurdish militia which both the U.S. and Turkey consider a foreign terror organization.

Meantime, more involvement by Turkey in the fight against ISIL on that border could complicate the overall effort. Kurdish fighters in Syria — known as the PKK — control most of the region and are a key force against ISIL. They are also considered a foreign terror group by both Turkey and the U.S.
Monday, Kirby reiterated American support for Turkish strikes against the PKK, which Turkish leaders say was in retaliation for PKK attacks which killed two Turkish soldiers over the weekend.

Story by CCTV America’s Jessica Stone


Turkish citizens react to strikes against Kurdish fighters
Turkish authorities are stepping up two separate military offensives: one against ISIL, and the other on Kurdish fighters. The operations on the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) have effectively ended a 2-year peace process. As the violence escalates, the public’s concern is also rising. CCTV’s Michal Bardavid reports from Istanbul.
Follow Michal Bardavid on Twitter @MichalBardavid


Joshua Walker on NATO meeting held for Turkey security needs
Turkey is looking for help, but it’s unclear how much help they want. NATO is holding an emergency meeting Tuesday at Ankara’s request. CCTV’s Mike Walter spoke with Joshua Walker about this meeting. Walker is a foreign policy analyst with extensive experience in Turkey.