Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday welcomed Western strikes against Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad’s regime as « appropriate » in retaliation for Damascus’ « inhumane » attacks.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday welcomed Western strikes against Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad’s regime as « appropriate » in retaliation for Damascus’ « inhumane » attacks.
« We consider this operation as appropriate, » Erdogan told a meeting of his ruling party in Istanbul.
With the latest operation, he said, « The regime has seen that its mounting attacks in recent days against dissidents… will not be left unanswered. »
The United States, Britain and France carried out a wave of pre-dawn strikes against the Assad regime Saturday in response to a suspected chemical weapons attack that killed dozens of civilians on April 7.
Erdogan said he had a « sleepless night » as he monitored all the developments.
« It is not possible for us to approve the situation encountered by (Syrian) babies as a result of the use of chemicals weapons, » he said.
« Whoever the perpetrators they should pay a price. »
Erdogan held a telephone conversation with British Prime Minister Theresa May and French President Emmanuel Macron following the strikes.
The Turkish leader told the two leaders his country « clearly condemned » the use of chemical weapons, a Turkish presidential source said.
He said the only way to long-lasting peace in Syria was a « political solution, » the source added. The Turkish leader also emphasised the importance of de-escalating the tension in the region.
Turkey is a vocal critic of Assad’s regime in Damascus and backed rebels fighting for his ouster. In recent months, however, it has closely worked with Russia for a political solution in Syria even though Moscow remains a chief ally of the regime.
Erdogan also had an « exchange of views » over the US-led strikes, in a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin late on Saturday, the Turkish presidential source said.
The two leaders « reaffirmed their determination to exert joint efforts to reduce tensions on the ground in Syria and to find a political solution to the problem, » the source added.
They agreed to « stay in close touch on both bilateral and regional issues. »
Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag said the strikes had not been launched via Turkey’s southern Incirlik air base.
« Turkey was informed ahead of the attack, » he wrote on Twitter. « The Incirlik base was not used in the attack. »
In a statement, the Turkish foreign ministry said the US-led operation « has eased humanity’s conscience in the face of » the suspected chemical attack.
« The Syrian regime, which has been tyrannising its own people for more than seven years, be it with conventional or chemical weapons, has a proven track record of crimes against humanity and war crimes, » it said.
« The conscience of the international community is in no doubt about that. »
