Turkey’s Ops Not Directed at Daesh: Pentagon Chief


TEHRAN (Tasnim) – US Secretary of Defense Ash Carter said Turkey’s operations are not “directed” at ISIL (Daesh) terrorists and the Pentagon would like Ankara “to do more” both in the air and on the ground.

“Most of their air operations are not directed at ISIL,” The Pentagon chief told the House Armed Services Committee on Tuesday, RT reported on Wednesday.

“They are directed at the PKK, which we understand their concern about…we would like to see them do more against ISIL,” he added.

“We would like them to operate more both in the air and on the ground,” the Defense Secretary said, adding that Ankara has failed to control its borders “effectively”.

Since beginning its military operations, Turkey has been accused of targeting Kurdish forces that are fighting ISIL terrortists.