Islam Times - Turkey made terrible mistake over Syria

Islam Times - An analyst says the Turkish government has made a "terrible mistake" by supporting opposition forces in Syria.

James Jatras, former US Senate Foreign Policy Analyst said in an interview that "Ankara made a terrible mistake in supporting the opposition in Syria."

The analyst also noted that the ongoing US-led airstrikes against militant positions are directed against the sovereign state of Syria and not aimed at fighting the ISIL terrorists there.

The political expert also expressed his doubts about Turkey's true intention to join the US-led airstrikes in the troubled regions in Iraq and Syria.

"I wonder about what was promised to Turkish government behind closed door. We do know from public reports that the Obama administration made promises to the Saudi government that the United States will redouble its efforts to undermine and overthrow the Damascus government as the price for the Saudi participation in this campaign supposedly directed against ISIL," Jatras added.

Turkey has been one of the leading backers of the ISIL and other affiliated militant groups fighting against the government of President Bashar al-Assad.

The developments come as Turkish lawmakers have passed a controversial motion authorizing the government to carry out military operations against ISIL Takfiri terrorists in Syria and Iraq.

Since September 22, the United States and its allies have been conducting airstrikes against ISIL inside Syria without authorization from Damascus or a UN mandate.

Turkey, a NATO member, has been under pressure by Western countries to cooperate with them in their so-called anti-ISIL operations.

Ankara has been a major supporter of foreign-backed Takfiri terrorists operating to topple the Damascus government since March 2011.