ISTANBUL: Turkey on Monday said it wanted international air support for its army’s assault on the Daesh-held Syrian town of Al-Bab where the military is facing tough resistance from extremists.
Turkish forces have for weeks joined pro-Ankara Syrian fighters in fierce fighting for Al-Bab, taking increasing casualties as they approach closer to the center.
Turkey is part of the US-led coalition against Daesh in Syria and lets Western warplanes use its Incirlik air base as a hub for air raids.
“As for our operations in Al Bab, the international coalition should assume its responsibilities, especially where air support is concerned,” presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said in Ankara. “The weather conditions can sometimes entail delays,” Kalin acknowledged. “But the absence of air support when there is no valid reason is unacceptable,” he added.
The US and its allies have been conducting their own airstrikes against Daesh targets in Syria but there have been no reports of them specifically aiding the Turkish operation. Turkey at the weekend deployed more tanks and artillery to the border and also has sent 500 elite commandos to Al-Bab in readiness for a final fight for the town, reports said.
Thirty-six Turkish soldiers have died so far in the operation inside Syria — dubbed Euphrates Shield — since it was launched on Aug. 24.
The Turkish army on Monday accused Daesh of killing at least 30 civilians seeking to flee Al-Bab.
The army said that the civilians were killed with mines and homemade bombs as they tried to make their way out of Al-Bab, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported, without giving further details.
Turkish forces have for weeks joined pro-Ankara Syrian fighters in fierce fighting for Al-Bab, taking increasing casualties as they approach closer to the center.
Turkey is part of the US-led coalition against Daesh in Syria and lets Western warplanes use its Incirlik air base as a hub for air raids.
“As for our operations in Al Bab, the international coalition should assume its responsibilities, especially where air support is concerned,” presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said in Ankara. “The weather conditions can sometimes entail delays,” Kalin acknowledged. “But the absence of air support when there is no valid reason is unacceptable,” he added.
The US and its allies have been conducting their own airstrikes against Daesh targets in Syria but there have been no reports of them specifically aiding the Turkish operation. Turkey at the weekend deployed more tanks and artillery to the border and also has sent 500 elite commandos to Al-Bab in readiness for a final fight for the town, reports said.
Thirty-six Turkish soldiers have died so far in the operation inside Syria — dubbed Euphrates Shield — since it was launched on Aug. 24.
The Turkish army on Monday accused Daesh of killing at least 30 civilians seeking to flee Al-Bab.
The army said that the civilians were killed with mines and homemade bombs as they tried to make their way out of Al-Bab, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported, without giving further details.
