Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct.8
By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:
The militants of the IS terrorist organization (aka the Islamic State group, aka ISIS aka ISIL) are digging trenches on the border with Turkey in order to counter a possible ground offensive, the Turkish newspaper Milliyet said Oct.8.
The militants began digging the trench after Turkey had sent its military equipment on the border with Syria Oct.4.
Recently, Prime Minister of Turkey Ahmet Davutoglu named the conditions for participation in ground operations against the IS. He said in particular that Turkey will take part in ground operations against the IS only if the airspace of Syria is declared a no-fly zone.
Earlier in October the Kurds-populated Syrian town of Kobani, was taken under control by the IS. The move triggered mass protests among the Kurds in six provinces of Turkey. Some 15 people were killed during the protests.
Following the protests, a curfew was declared in the provinces of Diyarbakir, Mardin, Siirt, Mus, Van, Batman.
Turkish PM Davutoglu previously said the country would do anything possible to protect Kobani, adding that the Turkish army has the right to participate in military operations in other states, in accordance with the latest amendments made to the country's legislation.
On Oct. 2, 2014, the Turkish parliament adopted a mandate that gave permission for the country's armed forces to participate in the military operations abroad, as 298 deputies voted for this decision, and 98 deputies voted against it.
The terrorist organization known as the 'Islamic State' (IS, formerly ISIL or ISIS) was created in 2003 in Iraq. Between 2004 and 2006, the organization was led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, and consisted of 11 radical Islamist groups, which had close ties to the terrorist organization Al-Qaeda.
Following the start of military confrontation in Syria in 2013 between the armed opposition and the government forces, the IS penetrated the country. The organization said at the time it refuses to take the oath of Al-Qaeda and declared 'a holy war' against all groups in Iraq and Syria, as well as the Syrian government forces.
In late June of 2014, the IS announced about the creation of the 'Islamic Caliphate' on the territories under its control in Iraq and Syria. In turn, Iraqi authorities asked the international community for help in fighting the IS.