Turkey makes U-turn on ISIL

Turkey is struggling hard to stem the flow of ISIL militants in a major policy shift by the Ankara government which previously allowed Takfiri militants free access to neighboring Syria, a new report says. 

Political observers say Turkey has realized the fallacy of its open-border policy which it put into practice in 2011 to let foreign militants into Syria to fight the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Diplomats and Turkish officials say thousands of fighters from Turkey, the United States, Britain and parts of Europe have joined the ISIL militants operating in eastern Syria and western Iraq.

“Thousands of Europeans have entered Turkey en route to Syria, and a large number of them we believe have joined extremist groups,” a European diplomat based in Ankara said.

The unnamed diplomat described Turkey as a “top security priority” for the European Union.

But the brutal advance of ISIL militants has forced Turkey and its Western allies to share intelligence and boost security cooperation.

“In recent months especially we’ve seen a real hardening in Turkey’s attitude, a recognition that this is a potential threat to their national security and a desire to take more practical steps through intelligence channels, [and] police channels,” added the diplomat.

The ISIL terrorists have threatened various communities, including Shias, Sunnis, Kurds, Christians and Izadi Kurds, during their advances in Iraq.

They have been committing heinous crimes in the areas they have taken, including the mass execution of civilians as well as Iraqi army troops and officers.

Several gruesome videos were released, purportedly showing members of the ISIL Takfiri terror group brutally killing Shia Muslims in drive-by shootings in Iraq.

The terrorist group has links with Saudi intelligence and is believed to be supported by the Israeli regime.

KA/HMV/SS