Turkey renews calls for a ground offensive in Syria

Turkish authorities yesterday renewed calls for a military ground intervention in Syria, calling it the “only solution”.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a senior Turkish official told reporters: “We are seeking a ground operation with our international allies, as it is impossible to stop the fighting in Syria without a ground intervention.”

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu announced on Saturday that Turkey and Saudi Arabia may launch a ground operation against Daesh forces in Syria, stressing that Saudi sent warplanes to the Turkey’s Incirlik Air Base.

“There will be no unilateral Turkish military operation in Syria,” he said. “We will not do anything against the will of the coalition.”

“Certainly, it is difficult to predict what may happen in 10 days. If the conditions have changed, other options can be looked into, but we do not have such intentions for the time being.”