Turkey 'has no plans for ground troops' in Syria

There are no plans to send ground troops into Syria, the Turkish Prime Minister has said.

The statement follows last week's suicide bombing in the Turkish town of Suruc, to which the country responded with operations against Islamic State and PKK Kurdish militants in Iraq and Syria.

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Turkish airstrikes on Kurdish targets in northern Iraq

Turkish air strikes hit six Kurdish militant targets in Turkey and northern Iraq overnight, a statement from the prime minister's office said.

Turkish authorities have also detained a total of 1,302 people in 39 provinces as part of a crackdown targeting members of Islamic State, the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and illegal leftist groups, the statement said.

Nato to discuss Turkish military operations

he Dag military post which was attacked by Islamic State militants on 23 July. Credit: Reuters/Murad Sezer

Turkey has called a meeting of its Nato allies to discuss threats to its security as well as its airstrikes on so-called Islamic State fighters and Kurdish forces.

The conference in Brussels will see the allies discuss joint US and Turkish plans or a military campaign to push the radical group out of a strip of Syrian territory along the Turkish border, creating an "Islamic State-free zone".

In what could be a problematic development for Nato, Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has refused to draw a distinction between the Islamic State group and the PKK.

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Turkey investigating claims Kurdish fighters targeted

Claims that the Turkish military has been targeting Kurdish fighters instead of Islamic State insurgents are being investigated by the Government.

A Turkish government official said the political wing of the Kurdish People's Protection Unit was outside the scope of its current military operations.

The official said: "The ongoing military operation seeks to neutralise imminent threats to Turkey's national security and continues to target Islamic State in Syria and the PKK in Iraq."

It follows claims from Kurdish fighters that the Turkish army had shelled its positions in a village on the outskirts of the IS-held town of Jarablus, in north-western Syria.

YPG fighters accuse Turkey of targeting them instead of IS

Kurdish fighters have accused Turkey of deliberately targeting them instead of focusing on the "terrorists" of the so-called Islamic State.

The Kurdish People's Protection Unit (YPG) militia claimed the Turkish army had shelled its positions in a village on the outskirts of the IS-held town of Jarablus, in north-western Syria.

In a statement, the fighters urged Ankara to halt its "aggression" against their group.

It comes after Turkish F-16 fighter jets reportedly hit Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) targets in northern Iraq yesterday, as part of an ongoing operation against both Kurdish militants and Islamic State.

Turkey has 'no plans to send ground troops into Syria'

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu Credit: Reuters

There are no plans to send ground troops into Syria, the Turkish Prime Minister has said.

In an interview with Turkish media, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu also said he agrees with US plans to provide air cover for moderate rebels fighting the so-called Islamic State there.

Mr Davutoglu is also reported as saying that the Syrian Kurdish PYD could "have a place in the new Syria" if it did not disturb Turkey, cut all relations with President Bashar al-Assad's administration and cooperated with opposition forces

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Turkish fighter jets 'hit PKK targets in northern Iraq'

Turkish F-16 fighter jets have reportedly hit Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) targets in northern Iraq on Sunday, Turkish security sources have said.

It confirmed it will be the latest attack in Ankara's operation against Kurdish militants and Islamic State.

The warplanes, which hit targets in Hakurk, northern Iraq, were scrambled from the air base in Diyarbakir, the sources said.

Turkey calls for Nato to discuss IS and PKK strikes

Turkey wants Nato to discuss its security operations against IS and the PKK. Credit: Reuters

Turkey has asked Nato to hold an extraordinary council meeting next week to discuss its recent security operations against Islamic State and PKK Kurdish militants, the foreign ministry has said.

The meeting is likely to be held on Tuesday, it said in a statement.

Air strikes continue against IS in Iraq and Syria

The United States and allies have targeted Islamic State with 22 air strikes in Iraq and nine in Syria. Credit: Google Maps

The United States and allies have targeted Islamic State militants with 22 air strikes in Iraq on Friday and nine in Syria, the Command Joint Task Force said.

Seven of the strikes were near the Iraqi city of Fallujah and hit bridges, a bomb-making facilities and other strategic targets.

Others hit targets near the cities of Al Huwayjah, Bayji, Habbaniyah, Makmur, Mosul, Ramadi, Sinjar and Tel Afar and hit tactical units, weapons and other assets.

In Syria, IS fighting positions, tactical units and equipment were targeted by air strikes near Al Hasakah, Ar Raqqah, Dayr Az and Kobani, a statement from The Command Joint Task Force said.

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