Negotiations between Turkey and Russia over Syria airspace regarding Afrin operation
It is reported that critical negotiations are being conducted between Ankara and Moscow regarding the eventual operation of Turkey in Afrin, Syria. General Hulusi Akar, Chief of General Staff and Hakan Fidan, MIT Undersecretary went to Moscow within this scope to hold a critical meeting with Russian Chief of General Staff and Defense Minister. The eventual operation in Afrin operation was on the agenda of the meeting.
It goes without saying that planned operation in Afrin has been the most important topic on Turkey’s agenda recently. Yesterday, there were hot developments about the subject and Chief of General Staff Hulusi Akar went to Moscow together with MIT Undersecretary Hakan Fidan to discuss details of this likely operation with Russia’s Chief of General Staff Valeri Gerasimov and Defense Minister Sergey Shoogu.
One of the most important issues discussed at the meeting was the request made by Turkey to use Syria airspace in said operation. In a statement made on Thursday, the Syrian Foreign Ministry had announced warning as to Turkish planes would be hit in case of such an operation. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, who spoke live on CNN Turk on Thursday, had said negotiations with Russia and Iran over the use of airspace was continuing.
On the other hand, it was reported that in case an agreement with Russia for the use of airspace does not realize, a second option would be on the table. In such case, the jets will hit the targets marked by the laser without entering the airspace. The F-16 planes are reported to be capable of hitting targets 50 km to the border with zero error, using HGK and LGK bombs.
