News:

9 October 2014 Turkey action against IS in Syria ‘unrealistic' (Source: BBC)

Turkey's foreign minister says it cannot be expected to lead a ground operation against Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria on its own. Mevlut Cavusoglu also called for the creation of a no-fly zone over its border with Syria after talks in Ankara with new NATO Chief Jens Stoltenberg.

Turkey is under intense pressure to do more to help Kurdish forces fighting IS in the strategic Syrian town of Kobane.

Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm John Kirby has warned that "air strikes alone are not going to save the town of Kobane. We know that and we've been saying that over and over again". He said that ultimately, rebel fighters in Syria and Iraqi troops would have to defeat IS militants, but it would take time.

Similar views were expressed by British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond.

 

Comments:

US does not seem happy with the no-ground military operation from Turkey around its border on Kobane, though air strikes has stalled the IS Syria's advance. Pentagon spokesman clearly mentioned that ground military operation is needed to save Kobane. Last month, former US Defense Secretary Robert Gates, also said ground troops will be needed to fight IS.

IS advance in Kobane, the border between Turkey and Syria, seems to be a planned action and a push from US, expecting the neighboring countries such Turkey to lead the ground military operation against IS in Syria. Barack Obama has ruled out the strategy on combating ISIS in his speech on Sept. 11, 2014 that there will be no ground operation from US, from allowing their troops to do so.

On 2nd October 2014, Turkey's parliament approved a motion authorizing the government to launch military action against Islamic State (IS) group jihadists in Syria and Iraq which would allow US-led coalition forces to use Turkish territory but does not commit Turkey to deploying troops.

Muslims should not be entrapped in the US-led coalition plan and IS created agenda. Turkey seems to know that the IS present in the borders is not a real threat to them and it is the US agenda to push Turkey's involvement for ground military operation. Turkey has its own justification not to enter into Syrian territories and keep guarding its borders.

However, Turkish nationalism against Kurdish or Arabs should not be the reason not to protect other Muslims in Syria, Iraq including the Kurds, Palestine and unite all our sincere Muslim brothers in IS to establish Khilafah "Caliphate" and fight against our enemies under the order of Amirul Jihad.

Turkey must remember, once the Muslims were united and protected by Turkey under the Uthmaniyah Empire. The Uthmaniyah army was the strongest and we as the Muslims should be reminded to one of the many important points in the last sermon of Khutbah of Hajj-ul-Widaa, from our Prophet (saw) said,

إِنَّ رَبَّكُمْ وَاحِدٌ، وَإِنَّ أَبَاكُمْ وَاحِدٌ، أَلاَ لاَ فَضْلَ لِعَرَبِيٍّ عَلَى أَعْجَمِيٍّ، وَلاَ لِعَجَمِيٍّ عَلَى عَرَبِيٍّ، وَلاَ لأَحْمَرَ عَلىَ أَسْوَدَ، وَلاَ أَسْوَدَ عَلَى أَحْمَرَ إِلاَّ بِالتَّقْوَى... تَعَلَّمُنَّ أَنَّ كُلَّ مُسْلِمٍ أَخٌ لِلْمُسْلِمِ، وَأَنَّ الْمُسْلِمِينَ إخْوَةٌ، فَلَا يَحِلُّ لِامْرِئِ مِنْ أَخِيهِ إلَّا مَا أَعْطَاهُ عَنْ طِيبِ نَفْسٍ مِنْهُ، فَلَا تَظْلِمُنَّ أَنَفْسَكُمْ

".....All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black any superiority over white - except by piety and good action.

Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood. Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim which belongs to a fellow Muslim unless it was given freely and willingly. Do not, therefore, do injustice to yourselves. .."

 

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by

Abu Ahmad