Turkey's Ministry of Foreign Affairs published a statement on Friday on the consensus reached with the U.S. on the matter of fighting against the self-proclaimed Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) that has become the top national security concern for Turkey.
Remarking on the recent terrorist attack in Suruç which killed 32 and the killing of an officer in the fire opened at Elbeyli border patrol, the statement enounced that Turkey has officially targeted ISIS in Syria within the scope of fighting against terrorism.
In the statement it said that "in accordance with article 51 of the UN Charter, our jets have officially been aimed at certain ISIS units as of this morning."
It was stated that as a follow-up of the cooperation process, the U.S. and Turkey has decided to take further measures on border safety and re-enforce cooperation. "Within this context, Turkey's Council of Ministers, based on the authorization received on October 2, 2014 by the Parliament, has approved the deployment of the jets and drones of the other member countries of the U.S.-led coalition, including some countries who took part in the airstrikes against ISIS in the region and deemed appropriate by the U.S. and Turkey, in Turkey's military bases." said the statement, adding that the Turkish Air Force will also take part in airstrikes against ISIS.
The statement also said that for operational reasons, further information could not be given at this stage.
However, as part of the cooperation between the U.S. and Turkey, Ministry also stated that 'as well as ensuring the security of Turkey, providing and reinforcing the security of people living in ISIS-controlled regions in Syria' were among the natural results expected from this collaboration.
Adding that operations carried out with the coalition countries against ISIS were performed in accordance with international law, the statement said that the United Nations Security Council was also being notified about the situation and necessary information.
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