Akar to Austin: Right of self-defense for Turkish operations in Syria

An American-Turkish brawl is underway between Ankara and Washington over Turkey’s possible invasion of Syria.

Yesterday the US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke by phone with his Turkish counterpart, Hulusi Akarin which he expressed US objections to a possible Turkish invasion of Syria.

In addition, Austin called on Akar to end Turkey’s air operations, as there is a risk of harming American forces operating in the region.

Responding to Austin, as transmitted from Istanbul by Manolis KostidisAkar stated that Turkey’s operations in Syria are a “right of self-defense.”

According to a statement from the Turkish Ministry of Defense, Hulusi Akar said that Turkey and the United States are two important allies and added that “counter-terrorism operations are carried out within our rights of self-defense under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter to ensure the security of our nation and our borders.”

Also stressing that cooperation and solidarity in the fight against terrorism will contribute to regional and global peace and security, Akar underlined that Turkey is ready for cooperation against ISIS and all other terrorist organizations, he noted that the only goal in the operations they are the terrorists and that Turkey is not going to harm coalition forces or civilians.

Meanwhile, ahead of the meeting of Turkey’s National Security Council (today at 14:30), Turkey’s state television TRT reported that “the issues that will be thoroughly discussed include Greece’s provocations in the Aegean”.

“Council members will exchange views on the steps to be taken against the provocative actions of the Greek government which continues to militarize the islands with a demilitarized regime,” TRT reported.

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