site.btaTurkish Defence Minister Doesn’t Rule Out Joint Actions with Syria against Terrorism 

Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar did not exclude the possibility for conducting a joint operation with Syria against terrorists in the region around the border between the two countries, the Sabah newspaper reported.

Akar spoke to journalists in connection with his meeting with defence ministers and intelligence chiefs from Turkiye, Russia and Syria, held in Moscow on December 28.  
 
Answering a question, the Turkish Defence Minister did not exclude the possibility for a joint operation with Syria against terrorism in the region. He described this possibility as something natural if it would solve problems in the fields of defence and security and if it will meet the two countries’ needs. 

Commenting the meeting, Akar said that the Turkish side expressed that Ankara respects Syria’s territorial integrity and sovereignty and its only goal is to fight terrorism. 

It was underlined during the meeting that terrorist organizations are in control of almost one third of Syria’s territory and the reason for the presence of Turkish troops in Syria is to fight terrorists and prevent mass migration, he explained.