Defence Minister Işık: We Will Join Mosul Airstrikes

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Minister of National Defence Fikri Işık has announced that Turkey will join the air operation of the coalition forces in Mosul.

The statement has not yet been confirmed by the United States (US) or Iraq.

CLICK - CONTRADICTORY STATEMENTS BY PM YILDIRIM ON TURKEY’S PARTICIPATION IN MOSUL

Speaking at the weekly group meeting of the Justice and Development Party (AKP), Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım had also announced that the Turkish Air Forces has joined the air operation launched in Mosul.

Yet upon being asked by the journalists whether jets of Turkey would join the operation, Yıldırım had later responded; “Not at the moment. I don’t know the details of the operations there right now. When our jets are put to use, we will have participated in the operations”.

“Reached an agreement with the coalition forces”

Attending the Southeast European Defence Ministers (SEDM) Meeting in Italy’s capital city Rome, Minister Işık has held a press statement following the meeting.

Asked by the journalists, whether Turkey would attend the operation, Işık has answered; “We have reached an agreement with the coalition forces on the participation of our air forces in the Mosul operation”.  

Upon being asked about the Mosul meeting soon to be held in France’s capital Paris and Turkey also being invited to the meeting, Işık has noted;

“It is normal that Turkey will be involved in the developments in Mosul and the meetings. It is not possible to take any decision regarding the future of Mosul without Turkey”.

Refugees from Mosul

Being asked about the warning of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) that  Mosul operation could cause 100,000 Iraqis to flee to Turkey and Syria, Işık has responded;

“The UN’s warning is a well-meant one.[...] At this point we as Turkey insistently and patiently repeat that the Mosul operations definitely should be held by the people in the region themselves. If you include some forces which do not belong to the region to Mosul operation, some very serious problems may occur in the region and we might have to face a new refugee problem.

“We are talking about a million people. Think about Turkey’s capacity to handle this. It is not possible that this will also not affect Europe”. (AS/DG)