October 15, 2014•Update: February 21, 2017
ANKARA
While the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) violence rages on, Turkey is pushing for a no-fly zone and a safe haven near the Syrian-Turkish border for Syrian refugees as thousands of civilians from the Syrian-Kurdish town of Kobani continue to flee into Turkey to seek refuge from relentless the militant group.
Although no agreement has been made about the "safe heaven," Turkey's insistent attitude has made the U.S. more mild-mannered towards the issue.
"The buffer zone is an idea that's been out there. It's worth examining," Kerry said during a press conference last week with his British counterpart Philip Hammond. "It needs a thorough examination. We're all in favor of looking at this very closely."
"Turkey has been pushing for a safe zone for about 2-3 years now. Turkey wants to deal with ISIL extensively, with a plan that they believe in," says Oytun Orhan from the Ankara-based think-tank Middle Eastern Strategic Studies (ORSAM).
"A safe zone will make the opposition act against ISIL more comfortably through these zones."
Another specialist in the Ankara-based tank International Strategic Research Organization (USAK), Mehmet Yegin, thinks a safe zone is a "must" for the refugees.
"The refugee problem is getting out of control, a safe zone will meet the basic needs of the people," he said.
However, there are still uncertainties about the exact location of the safe zone because different armed groups have taken control of nearly 911 of the Turkish-Syrian border.
ISIL, Free Syrian Army and Syrian-Kurdish People’s Defense Forces (YPG) areas in the region. Experts think a safe zone can be established in Free Syrian Army-controlled areas of Idlib and Aleppo.
Orhan says the Turkish government naturally wants a U.S.-led coalition force in the area to protect the safe zone.
"However, if ISIL, YPG or the PKK directly attack Turkey, then the Turkish army can also defend itself without being part of ," he said.
The outlawed Kurdistan People's Party, or PKK, is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey as well as by the U.S. and the EU.
Meanwhile, stresses that safe zones would provide an opportunity to train the Syrian opposition against ISIL. The Free Syrian Army could become stronger and recruit more people as a part of the training.
Turkey and the U.S. have reportedly agreed on training and equipping Syrian opposition parties against ISIL. In light of Turkey's agreement to contribute to the equipment and training of moderate Syrian opposition forces inside its borders, a joint U.S. Central Command and European Command team will pay a visit to the country next week.
Turkey is continuing to insist on its conditions for allowing U.S.-led coalition forces to use its Incirlik air base in the south of the country, as the U.S. keeps voicing its willingness to access to the military facility.
The Turkish government insists on the establishment of a no-fly zone to halt attacks by the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Syrian opposition forces, and the setting-up of a safe haven near the Turkey-Syrian border for refugees fleeing ISIL attacks in Syria.
Turkey has repeatedly said the fight against ISIL requires a comprehensive strategy and it has demanded the removal of the Assad regime in Syria which, according to Ankara, is part of a comprehensive solution needed to defeat ISIL.
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