Carter: Turkey should do more in fight against Daesh
Iran Press TV
Aug 20, 2015 8:25PM
US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter has called on Turkey to “do more” in fight against Daesh militants in Syria.
Carter said on Thursday that Turkey should play a full part in the US-led air campaign against the Takfiri terrorists by adding its own warplanes.
"They need to join the NATO and they need to work more on controlling their border. And we've made that clear," he told reporters.
"Their leadership has indicated that this needs to be done. It's overdue, because it's a year into the campaign, but they're indicating some considerable effort now."
Although Turkey agreed last month to increase its involvement in the war against Daesh terrorists, the country itself is providing training for the militants.
According to reports, Turkey trains and arms the militants active in Syria and also facilitates the safe passage of would-be foreign terrorists into crisis-hit areas.
Carter said Thursday that Turkey should maintain a better control of its border with Syria.
"We need them also as a neighbor to this conflict zone, as a long-time NATO ally and a responsible member of the anti-ISIL coalition, to control the border," he said.
"I don't think they're dragging their feet," Carter said, noting that the fact that Ankara allows US strikes to be launched from Turkish air fields was "important, but not enough."
Terrorists operating in Syria have long enjoyed the support of certain regional countries, including Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
Daesh is notorious for its barbarity, heinous atrocities, and sacrilegious acts and the militants have committed gross human rights violations and war crimes in areas they control, particularly in Libya, Syria, and Iraq.
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