President Donald Trump with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the UN General Assembly in New York City in September 2017. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
Middle East Eye: Turkey requests US conduct aerial patrols near Idlib as Assad's forces close in
Latest request came earlier this month as Ankara also asked Washington for two batteries of Patriot missile systems to shield border area from air attacks
Turkey has asked the US to conduct aerial patrols in its airspace bordering the Syrian province of Idlib to show support for Ankara's ongoing military operations against forces loyal to Damascus, a Turkish official told Middle East Eye.
The latest request came earlier this month in meetings with US Special Envoy James Jeffrey in Ankara, where Turkish officials also asked Washington for two batteries of Patriot missile systems to shield the border area from possible air attacks, the official told MEE on condition of anonymity.
Since then, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a phone call with US President Donald Trump, but the White House has not given any indications that it would provide tangible support for Turkey's operations along its southern border.
"He [Trump] promised that he would sanction the regime officials, or anyone involved in attacks against the civilians. And that he would issue strong-worded statements," the official said. "But he didn't commit himself to anything involving the military, yet."
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WNU Editor: Turkey knows their planes will be shot down if they enter Syrian airspace. Hence the request to the Americans. It is amazing how quickly relations can change in the Middle East. Four months ago President Erdogan boasted how he threw a letter from President Trump into the garbage can .... Did Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Threw US President Trump's Letter Into A 'Garbage Bin'? (October 17, 2019). Now he is pleading for help.
