Anti-ISIL Strategy Failing, Turkey’s Presidential Spokesman Says

Ankara, 17 Jumadil Akhir 1437/26 March 2016 (MINA) – Turkey’s presidential spokesman on Saturday called for a review of the anti-ISIL (Islamic State group) strategy in Syria and Iraq to prevent the spread of terrorism.

In his weekly column in the English-language Daily Sabah, Ibrahim Kalin said there were lessons to be learned from the “latest act of cowardice and inhumanity” in Brussels, where terrorists killed 31 and wounded hundreds in attacks on an airport and metro station.

Tuesday’s bombings followed recent bomb attacks in Istanbul and Ankara. Anadolu Agency quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

“First of all, the anti-Daesh (ISIL) strategy needs to be revised,” Kalin said. “But the current strategy, which has focused primarily on airstrikes on Daesh targets in Syria and Iraq, has failed to stop Daesh from striking in Syria, Turkey, Europe and the U.S. The war in Syria continues to feed the Daesh monster. The longer we let this war continue, the deadlier Daesh terrorism will become.”

Kalin, an aide to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said the conflict in Syria and “deep security and political problems” in Iraq had allowed ISIL to grow. (T/P001/R07)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)