The Guardian: Turkey and US 'agree in principle' to provide air support for Syrian rebels
* Foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu: ‘They have to be supported via air’
* Two countries agreed $500m programme to train Syrians in February
Turkey and the US have agreed in “principle” to provide air protection to Syrian rebels being trained and equipped to fight Islamic State militants, once they enter Syrian territory for battle, Turkey’s foreign minister said.
The two countries agreed in February to train and equip up to 15,000 Syrians under the $500m US programme designed to add a credible ground force to an air bombing campaign against the militant group.
The program suffered unexplained delays as the US resisted Turkish calls for the force to be also prepared to fight the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad, and the sides tried to reach agreement on who to train.
WNU Editor: The U.S. has not commented on these reports, but if true it is a major escalation in the war in Syria .... in fact .... the U.S. and Turkey will be "officially" at war with Syria. I also expect Russia and Iran to respond. I cannot help but wonder on how long is it going to take before this policy of "air protection" becomes a policy of providing air support in the form of bombing raids against the Assad regime.
More News On Turkey And The U.S. Have Agreed "In Principle" To Provide 'Air Protection' To The Syrian Rebels
Turkey, US to provide air protection to Syrian rebels -- AP
Turkey says in deal with U.S. on air support for Syria rebels -- Reuters
US, Turkey Agree To Provide Air Support For Syrian Rebels: Official -- IBTimes
Turkey, US to provide air support for Syrian rebels -- Albawaba
Turkey, U.S. agree 'in principle' to provide air cover for Syrian rebels battling ISIS -- Haaretz
Turkey says it struck deal with US on air support for Syria rebels -- Jerusalem Post