Türkiye, four regional states to establish joint operations center against ISIS

Türkiye, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, and Lebanon have agreed to intensify joint efforts in combating the terrorist group ISIS by establishing a regional operations center.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan made the announcement following a five-party security meeting in Jordan, Caliber.Az reports, citing Turkish media.

Fidan emphasized the necessity of coordinated action, stating that while Türkiye has long been engaged in the fight against ISIS, the group's widespread impact across multiple countries requires a collective response.

"We, as the countries of the region, are determined to fight against ISIS. Türkiye has been waging this fight for a long time on its own. Since ISIS harms not just one country but many states in the region, it is difficult to combat the group alone. Therefore, it was important for us to unite and create a solid platform. Today, we have taken the first step toward establishing this platform. Concrete steps will follow, starting with the creation of a joint operations center," Fidan said.

Beyond ISIS, the Turkish foreign minister also addressed concerns regarding the PKK, highlighting its territorial control in Syria and Iraq. He noted that while the PKK no longer holds territory in Türkiye, it continues to occupy vast areas in neighboring countries.

"In Iraq, they have occupied 700 villages in Iraqi Kurdistan, taken control of the Sinjar region, and some other areas. So, this is not just Türkiye’s problem," Fidan explained, stressing that regional cooperation is essential in tackling all forms of terrorism.

By Vugar Khalilov