Russia and Iran are not fighting Daesh in Syria, claims Erdogan, they are there to support Assad

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeated his claim that Russia is coordinating its military operations in Syria with the regime of President Bashar Al-Assad, and that Moscow and Tehran are providing all kinds of support to Damascus. “Russia and Iran back Assad,” said Erdogan, “but are they fighting Daesh? The answer is no.”

The Turkish president made his comments during an interview with France 24. He spoke about the latest developments and events in the region, especially the situation in Syria and the shooting down of a Russian air force jet when it entered Turkish airspace. President Vladimir Putin has not returned his call about the incident, he explained, at which he expressed his astonishment at the Russian position. “What does Russia want to know? As a country I have the evidence, the proof, everything is clear; all the data is in my radar stations and I have provided all of this evidence, and we aired it on television.”

Erdogan pointed out that the Syrian regime and its allies always target the Turkman area in Latakia, in the Turkman Mountain Region (Bayirbucak). “Over 300 individuals have been killed,” he noted, “most of them Turkmen. In fact, in the past week alone 20 Turkmen were killed, but Daesh is not there. Daesh is in the east, facing no threat from the regime and its allies.”

Responding to Russian claims that Turkey has helped Daesh by buying oil from the group, he said that this was “slanderous”. Those who say such things, he insisted, should provide their evidence. “If they cannot prove it, this shows an incredible lack of respect for the Republic of Turkey.” He added that Turkey is buying natural gas from Russia; oil and gas from Iran; and also buys oil from Azerbaijan, Northern Iraq and Algeria, and liquid gas from Qatar.

In a related context, Erdogan condemned the attack on his country’s embassy in Moscow. Local people threw stones, tomatoes and rotten eggs while the police stood and watched. According to President Erdogan, this was a provocation.

“Such things could have happened in my country, but I would not allow this to happen,” he insisted. “Our law enforcement forces would be sent to the location immediately and would prevent this kind of action around the Russian Embassy because all diplomatic buildings are under our guarantee; we are in charge of the security. If we don’t do it, it would be an error of international diplomacy.”