Syria blames Turkey of sponsoring Islamic State

Al-Hakam Dandi, Syria’s deputy permanent representative to the United Nations accused Turkey of sponsoring the Islamic State (ISIS).

“The pretexts marked by the Turkish regime to justify its attacks on Syrian territories are no longer tricking anyone, particularly in light of its persistence to back terrorist organizations and to sponsor Daesh [ISIS] and Jabhat al-Nusra [Hayat Tahrir al-Sham],” Dandi said in address to the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday.

The Syrian diplomat also called on the UNSC to put pressure on Ankara to end its “illegal military presence” on Syrian territory, Rudaw reported, citing Syrian media.

On Nov.19, Turkey has launched airstrikes into Northern Syria targeting Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) and into Northern Iraq targeting Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in response to an Istanbul bombing that it blames the Kurdish groups for conducting the attack.

Syrian and Iraqi governments strongly denounced Turkey’s operations, saying that Ankara is violating their territorial integrity.

Since 2016, Turkey has carried out three large-scale military offensives into Northern Syria.

A coalition of Turkey-backed armed Syrian rebel groups operating mainly in the north of the war-torn country, supports Ankara in its fight against Kurdish groups.

The Syrian National Army (SNA), formerly known as the Free Syrian Army, took part in Turkey’s military offensives into the region and is provided funding, training and military support by Ankara, according to several reports.

Syrian regime defines these rebel groups as terrorists.

Turkey also has long been criticized of recruiting ISIS fighters in Syria to support its fight against Kurdish militants.