Amid rising tensions between Ankara and Moscow, Turkish President Erdogan has expressed concern over the alleged presence of Russian engineers near the country’s Syrian border. The Turkish government has expressed alarm over Russia’s air campaign in Syria since it began last September. Along its Syrian border zone, Turkey has dug defense trenches and increased security forces, despite the fact that Moscow has repeatedly stated its goal is to combat terrorist groups in Syria. On Friday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed new levels of panic, sounding the alarm over the alleged presence of Russian inspectors at an airport near the Turkish border.
“We have said this from the beginning: we won’t tolerate such formations (in northern Syria) along the area stretching from the Iraqi border up to the Mediterranean,” he told reporters. “We maintain our sensitivities on these issues.”
Erdogan said he plans to discuss the matter with US Vice President Joe Biden when the two meet on Saturday.
“I can say that Turkey is closely watching every military movement on its borders and especially the border with Syria,” a Turkish government source added, speaking on condition of anonymity. FULL REPORT
