ANKARA, Turkey – Turkey appointed a new army commander as it announced that US warplanes were assembling at Turkish air bases for a joint “comprehensive battle” against the Islamic State group (ISIS or ISIL).
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Cavusoglu said Wednesday that American planes and drones were arriving, following permission last month to allow the use of air bases to US warplanes, including the strategic Incirlik air base.
“We're seeing that manned and unmanned American planes are arriving and soon we will launch a comprehensive battle against ISIL all together," Turkish media reports quoted Cavusoglu as saying during a trip to Malaysia.
Meanwhile, reports said that Gen. Hulusi Akar had been promoted to preside over NATO’s second-largest army, replacing Gen. Necdet Ozel.
Last month, Turkey allowed the use of its Incirlik air base to US forces, as it announced a war on terrorism. However, so far, the bulk of Turkey’s military action has been against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, including several raids on PKK camps in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region.
Washington has defended Turkey’s actions against the PKK, which is recognized as a terrorist group by the United States and the European Union. However, PKK affiliates in Syria have also been effective in standing up to ISIS, winning limited US military support and praise.
Until now, Turkey has been largely criticized for being a reluctant partner in the US-led coalition arrayed to defeat ISIS. Ankara says it is gearing up for an assault on the Islamists after turning a blind eye to their use of the Turkish border to smuggle in fighters and smuggle out oil and goods to sell.
Turkey’s borders have been the vital lifelines for the vast territories that ISIS controls in Syria and Iraq. A genuine crackdown on ISIS at the border is expected to inflict a major blow on the group.
