Syrian MP Says Turkish Air Force Cooperation with Russia in Northern Syria as Erdogan’s Political Trick

Mohanad al-Haj said that participation of Turkish and Russian fighter jets in anti-ISIL operation in Northern Syria has been a plan initiated by Erdogan to save credit for Ankara in international arenas and meantime is an opportunity given by Moscow to Erdogan to verify his real intention.

“Turkey has found out that time is over for terrorists in Syria after their defeats in battles with Syrian army, in the meantime, Ankara has been known by the world community and even Turkish people as a sole backer of terrorists in Syria, so Ankara has had no way out but encouraging the Turkey-backed militant groups to join peace talks with Syrian Government,” al-Haj said.

“Erdogan’s fear from the negative consequences of supporting terrorism for his country has forced the Turkish army to try hard to enter the ISIL-held town of al-Bab in Northern Aleppo several times to set up a buffer zone from al-Bab to the town of Ezaz to prevent terrorists’ return to Turkey,” the Syrian legislator said.

He said the Syrian army and its allies, including Iran and Russia, are resolved to and will definitely capture al-Bab.

Erdogan said earlier this month that the Turkish-backed offensive to take the Syrian town of al-Bab from ISIL terror group should be finished soon.

Erdogan said in a televised speech that he was determined that other areas of Syria, including the town of Manbij, should be cleared by the Turkish-backed forces, referring to a town 50 km (30 miles) East of al-Bab, Daily Mail reported.

The remarks by Erdogan came as the General Staff of the Turkish army said at the time that the country’s army continued to target ISIL’s positions in Northern Aleppo province, killing at least 18 militants and destroying 150 targets in the Euphrates Shield Operation.

“18 ISIL militants were killed and 150 targets were destroyed in the Turkish forces’ attacks on ISIL’s positions in al-Bab town,” the General Staff said.

Russian fighter jets also bombed ISIL’s positions in al-Bab another time to support the Euphrates Shield Operation started by Ankara in August. Turkish and Russian fighter jets carried out joint aerial operation against ISIL’s centers in al-Bab on the first day of 2017.