Ankara, Turkey, May 17
By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:
Turkey does not plan to start ground military operations in Syria, the Turkish foreign ministry told Trend May 17.
According to the ministry, Turkey is a part of an international coalition against the IS terrorist organization (ISIL or ISIS) and all operations are conducted only within the coalition.
The ministry also said that Turkey delivered its Incirlik Air Base to the international coalition as part of the fight against the IS.
"The Turkish Armed Forces are making pinpoint strikes on the positions of the IS militants in response to the shelling of our country's territory," the ministry said.
The ministry said that the IS poses a threat not only for Turkey but also for the entire region.
"If necessary, Turkey may launch a ground military operation in Syria by itself," Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said earlier.
Davutoglu noted that over the recent months, Turkey's territory has been regularly subjected to shelling from Syria's territories controlled by the IS militants.
"The activities of terrorist organizations in Syria pose a serious threat to Turkey and the whole world," said Davutoglu.
"Turkey is the only country which actively fights the IS militants," added the prime minister.
Syria has been suffering from an armed conflict since March 2011, which, according to the UN, has so far claimed the lives of over 500,000 people.
Militants from various armed groups are confronting the Syrian government troops.
The "Islamic State" and Jabhat al-Nusra are the most active terrorist groups in Syria.