Turkey Will Not Assist Iraq in Retaking Mosul

Turkey Will Not Assist Iraq in Retaking Mosul
Fri Mar 6, 2015 17:30:29

Turkey's prime minister says his country will not assist Iraq militarily in retaking the city of Mosul from ISIS.

Ahmet Davutoglu says Turkey will, however, provide logistical support to its neighbor, ABC News reports.The prime minister's remarks Thursday follow the recent announcement that Turkey and the U.S. would train what they call "moderate Syrian rebels".

Turkey consider Atheel al-Nujaif to be the legitimate elected governor of Mosul

Turkey is willing to support a possible operation to reclaim Mosul from the ISIS (ISIL), but it will avoid any direct combat unless it is attacked on its own soil, Ahmet Davutoglu said 2 days ago on route to the United States on March 4.

“We would support Mosul, but we will not engage in direct combat. We will only respond if there is a direct attack on Turkey. We possess both the potential and the might for that,” Davutoglu told reporters, adding that Turkey would “back groups supported by the people” and considered Atheel al-Nujaif to be the legitimate elected governor of Mosul.

Davutoglu when say his view on Mosul which large scale operation against isis in Tikrit is in the 4th day.

"“We would support Mosul, but we will not engage in direct combat. We will only respond if there is a direct attack on Turkey. We possess both the potential and the might for that,” Davutoglu told reporters, adding that Turkey would “back groups supported by the people” and considered Atheel al-Nujaif to be the legitimate elected governor of Mosul."

Today Iraqi Army, along with popular forces from both Shiite and Sunni tribes, staged massive attacks on ISIL strongholds near al-Dor district, Tikrit, in Salahuddin province, liberating at least 15 villages, a military sources announced on Friday, FNA reported.

Yesterday The Iraqi army has ended the first and second phases of a battle to liberate the northern Salahuddine province from the clutches of ISIL, and has kicked off its third, which is currently moving slowly due to landmines left behind by the militants.

Meanwhilw today An Iraqi provincial governor says Iraqi forces are pushing their offensive against the ISIS group and expect to reach the outskirts of the militant-held city of Tikrit soon.

The governor of Salahuddin, Raed al-Jabouri, said that fighters expect to reach Tikrit later Friday.

On Wednesday, the Iraqi defense minister said his country's forces will take the city of Mosul back from ISIL without assistance of foreign forces.

"All the battles to the city of Mosul will be carried out by Iraqi forces exclusively; in planning, timing and execution," Khalid al-Obeidi told reporters.

"Iraq will not ask for assistance of any other forces for the battles against the ISIL militants," Obeidi underlined.

Iraqi forces are preparing for a large-scale offensive to regain control of its second-largest city. ISIS seized Mosul last summer as it swept across Syria and northern Iraq.

Iraqi Defense Minister Khaled al-Obeidi said on February 22, 2015 the timing of the Mosul assault was for Iraq to decide, criticizing a U.S. Central Command official who predicted the attack was likely to take place in April or May.

Obeidi said that military commanders should not show their hand to the enemy and that the U.S. official had no knowledge of the issue, stressing the importance of accuracy in planning.

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