Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has said the country cannot lead a ground operation against advancing Islamic State (IS) forces on its own, calling for a Nato-enforced buffer zone to be established on the Syrian-Turkish border.
"It is not realistic to expect Turkey to conduct a ground operation on its own," said Cavusoglu, adding, "We are holding talks. Once there is a common decision, Turkey will not hold back from playing its part."
The international response to the request for a buffer zone has been mixed so far. Whilst US Secretary of State John Kerry said the idea was “worth looking at very, very closely,” President Obama’s spokesman, Josh Earnest stated a buffer zone was “not something under consideration right now”.
Cavusoglu's comments come after a US administration official earlier told the New York Times, that there is "growing angst about Turkey dragging its feet to act to prevent a massacre less than a mile from its border.”
“After all the fulminating about a humanitarian catastrophe, they’re inventing reasons not to act to avoid another catastrophe ... This isn’t how a Nato ally acts while hell is unfolding a stone’s throw from their border, ” added the official who spoke anonymously.
Kobane remains the site of heavy fighting with sources reporting that IS has made advances into the Eastern districts of the city. The BBC reported a Kurdish leader as saying IS militants had entered two more districts overnight, bringing with them heavy weapons to fight against the Kurdish forces.
As air strikes against IS continue, Earnest also told reporters that “there are limitations associated with the exclusive use of air power.”
“Our strategy [in Syria] is reliant on something that is not yet in place … a Syrian opposition that can take the fight to Isil,” he added, using the alternative name for Islamic State.
UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond emphasised the importance that Kurdish groups play in the fight against IS, saying
“The Kurdish elements within Syria are an important part of the equation in holding the line against Isil and clearly the Turks, because they are physically contiguous, can assist with the supply of equipment and support to them.”
Protests have flared across the Kurdish areas of Turkey, with demonstrators setting fire to buildings and Turkish flags. The protestors are angry at the Turkish government's lack of support to beleaguered Kurdish forces defending Kobane from the IS advance.
Tanks have been deployed and curfews imposed as Turkish authorities attempt to quell the protests, which have seen at least 21 Kurds killed.
See our earlier post: US-led airstrikes continue as fighting rages in Kobane, riots in Turkey as Kurds demand action (08 October 2014)
"It is not realistic to expect Turkey to conduct a ground operation on its own," said Cavusoglu, adding, "We are holding talks. Once there is a common decision, Turkey will not hold back from playing its part."
The international response to the request for a buffer zone has been mixed so far. Whilst US Secretary of State John Kerry said the idea was “worth looking at very, very closely,” President Obama’s spokesman, Josh Earnest stated a buffer zone was “not something under consideration right now”.
Cavusoglu's comments come after a US administration official earlier told the New York Times, that there is "growing angst about Turkey dragging its feet to act to prevent a massacre less than a mile from its border.”
“After all the fulminating about a humanitarian catastrophe, they’re inventing reasons not to act to avoid another catastrophe ... This isn’t how a Nato ally acts while hell is unfolding a stone’s throw from their border, ” added the official who spoke anonymously.
Kobane remains the site of heavy fighting with sources reporting that IS has made advances into the Eastern districts of the city. The BBC reported a Kurdish leader as saying IS militants had entered two more districts overnight, bringing with them heavy weapons to fight against the Kurdish forces.
As air strikes against IS continue, Earnest also told reporters that “there are limitations associated with the exclusive use of air power.”
“Our strategy [in Syria] is reliant on something that is not yet in place … a Syrian opposition that can take the fight to Isil,” he added, using the alternative name for Islamic State.
UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond emphasised the importance that Kurdish groups play in the fight against IS, saying
“The Kurdish elements within Syria are an important part of the equation in holding the line against Isil and clearly the Turks, because they are physically contiguous, can assist with the supply of equipment and support to them.”
Protests have flared across the Kurdish areas of Turkey, with demonstrators setting fire to buildings and Turkish flags. The protestors are angry at the Turkish government's lack of support to beleaguered Kurdish forces defending Kobane from the IS advance.
Tanks have been deployed and curfews imposed as Turkish authorities attempt to quell the protests, which have seen at least 21 Kurds killed.
See our earlier post: US-led airstrikes continue as fighting rages in Kobane, riots in Turkey as Kurds demand action (08 October 2014)