Turkey Allows More NATO Air Patrols Along Syria Border

Nations Were Pushing for Easing of Rules of Engagement

Turkey has loosened its rules of engagement for NATO warplanes along the border with northern Syria, according to officials. They were said to be under pressure from several NATO members, and made the change around three weeks ago.

Turkey has sought NATO support in defending their border from ISIS, but has tried to limit their crossing into Syria in the past, concerned that so much of the air support in northern Syria is supporting the Kurdish YPG, which Turkey considers terrorists.

Turkey has been trying to improve its diplomatic relations in recent weeks, with a rapprochement with Israel earlier this week, and a formal apology for shooting down a Russian warplanes along the Syrian border last year.

NATO officials say that while they’ve been informed by Turkey of the rules changes, they have yet to actually increase the number of border patrol flights. They did not indicate if they expect this to change any time soon.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.