Turkish Foreign Minister to Travel to Damascus

Turkey is sending Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu to Damascus tomorrow to inform Syrian President Bashar al-Assad of “a decisive message”. According to the Guardian, “Turkish alarm, bordering on anger, is humanitarian and strategic in nature.” Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has officially condemned Syria’s continued manslaughter and has referred to the regime’s “savagery” in weekend rhetoric.

Additionally, Turkey’s concern over PKK fighters residing in the southern portions of the country has grown dramatically in recent weeks. One report states that there are nearly 1,500 fighters of Syrian descent in the region. “Iran’s refusal to share intelligence about its own anti-Kurd operations and its tightening links with the Syrian regime are another cause of Turkish concern,” the article reads. Strained relations have developed between Syria and Turkey since Assad’s crackdown, meaning that Syria has turned to Iran in an effort to garner some sort of support system.

“We have been very patient until now, waiting to see … whether they will listen to what we have been saying … But our patience is running out now,” Erdogan said in regards to the planned visit. He continued to say that Turkey cannot remain a bystander and will do whatever is in their best interest to quell the ongoing violence.