Turkey’s army dispatched tanks to the southeast Sirnak province’s Silopi district, a military source told Anadolu Agency today (Tuesday).
According to the source, who asked to remain anonymous, the tanks were from the Ankara-based 28th Mechanised Infantry Brigade and will travel close to the Iraqi border.
The exact number of tanks and further details remain unconfirmed.
Yeni Safak English reported Turkish Defence Minister Fikri Isik as saying the military reinforcement along its borders with Iraq and Syria was “a part of Turkey’s preparation against all kinds of scenarios in neighbouring countries.”
“We are in preparation for every probability,” Isik told private Turkish TV station Ahaber.
“Turkey will not tolerate any terrorist organisation,” vowed Isik, adding that operation ‘Euphrates Shield’ “will continue until terror threats are eliminated.”
Troops reinforcement
He also touched upon the ongoing Mosul offensive in northern Iraq underling that Ankara was working with the Baghdad administration and coalition forces fighting so-called Islamic State terrorists.
Turkey’s tank deployment close to its Iraqi border comes after President Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday that Turkey was aiming to reinforce its troops there, reported Turkish Minute.
Ankara would have a “different response” for Shiite militia groups if they “cause terror” in the Iraqi city of Tal Afar, said Erdogan.
Tal Afar, some 170km from Silopi, Sirnak is home to a sizeable ethnic Turkmen population with historic and cultural ties to Turkey.
Sırnak province is also one of the main areas of conflict between the Turkish military and PKK militants, who have bases in northern Iraq.
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