Turkey does not plan to send ground forces to Syria: foreign minister
Turkey last month made a dramatic shift in policy, sending warplanes to attack the Islamic State in northern Syria
A Turkish soldier stands guard at the Turkish-Syrian border in Karkamis, bordering with the Islamic State-held Syrian town of Jarablus, in Gaziantep province, Turkey, August 1, 2015. PHOTO: REUTERS
ISTANBUL:
Turkey does not expect to deploy ground forces in Syria to fight Islamic State but that option should remain on the table, Foreign Minister Mevult Cavusoglu said on Thursday.
Long a reluctant partner in the US-led coalition against Islamic State, NATO member Turkey last month made a dramatic shift in policy, sending warplanes to attack the Islamic State in northern Syria. It has also opened its air bases for use in coalition air strikes.
Read: US drone bombs IS target after taking off from Turkey: Turkish official
However, it has not launched ground operations in Syria.
"Right now, no ground operation is envisaged, but in the future whatever is needed to fight Islamic State - including ground operations - should be done. This is my personal opinion," Cavusoglu told HaberTurk TV in an interview.
Read: Turkey to start fight against Islamic State in Syria 'soon': FM
The United States launched its first manned air strikes against Islamic State targets from the Incirlik Air Base in Turkey on Wednesday, the US military said.
Turkey does not expect to deploy ground forces in Syria to fight Islamic State but that option should remain on the table, Foreign Minister Mevult Cavusoglu said on Thursday.
Long a reluctant partner in the US-led coalition against Islamic State, NATO member Turkey last month made a dramatic shift in policy, sending warplanes to attack the Islamic State in northern Syria. It has also opened its air bases for use in coalition air strikes.
Read: US drone bombs IS target after taking off from Turkey: Turkish official
However, it has not launched ground operations in Syria.
"Right now, no ground operation is envisaged, but in the future whatever is needed to fight Islamic State - including ground operations - should be done. This is my personal opinion," Cavusoglu told HaberTurk TV in an interview.
Read: Turkey to start fight against Islamic State in Syria 'soon': FM
The United States launched its first manned air strikes against Islamic State targets from the Incirlik Air Base in Turkey on Wednesday, the US military said.