US to deploy rocket launchers along Syrian-Turkish border

Washington and Ankara have agreed to deploy a rocket launcher system along Turkey’s border with Syria to counter attacks by Daesh.

In an interview published in the Haberturk newspaper yesterday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said US HIMARS missiles would arrive in May as part of a joint effort to fight Daesh.

The extremist group often shells the Turkish city of Kilis from areas under its control in Syria. The group has launched 40 strikes against the city since the beginning of this year killing at least 17 civilians.

The Turkish minister said he hopes that talks with the United States on the establishment of a safe zone in northern Syria would lead into concrete decisions.

“In order to clear the area of Daesh, we have to give the moderate opposition both aerial and ground support,” Cavusoglu said.

Turkey has long advocated for the establishment of a buffer zone near the Syrian border, but Washington opposes the plan.

US President Barack Obama said during a press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday that it would be very difficult to maintain a buffer zone in Syria without a major military commitment.