Turkey says troops will remain in Syria and Iraq until border security is guaranteed

Turkish Defence Minister Yaşar Guler said Tuesday that Turkish forces would remain deployed in Syria and Iraq until border security is fully guaranteed and threats to the country’s security have been eliminated. In written responses to journalists, Guler reaffirmed Ankara’s intention to maintain its military presence in both neighbouring countries, saying any decision to reconsider troop deployments would depend on security developments. “We are maintaining our military presence in Iraq and Syria,” Guler said. “Once we are certain that the necessary conditions regarding regional and border security have been met, the status of our deployment sites and our presence in the region will be reviewed.” Turkey has maintained military forces in northern Syria and Iraq for years, primarily to counter […]