Syrian-Turkish Military Exercise Launched on Shared Border, Israeli Occupation Government Worried

Turkish military launches joint exercise with Syria on shared border

SELCAN HACAOGLU

Associated Press Writer

 12:12 PM EDT, April 27, 2009

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) —

The Turkish military said it launched a joint drill with Syrian soldiers on their shared border Monday in order to improve security. Israel, an ally of Turkey and a longtime foe of Syria, expressed concern.

Military teams from Turkey and Syria were scheduled to cross the border and visit outposts during the three-day exercises, the Turkish military said. It described the drill as the "first-ever" between the countries.

There was no mention of the joint operation in Syrian media. However, government newspapers reported Monday that Syrian Defense Minister Hassan Ali Turkmani had begun a five-day visit to Turkey for talks with Turkish officials and also to attend an international defense fair in Istanbul.

In Istanbul, senior defense officials from Turkey and Syria also signed an agreement for cooperation in the defense industry, the Anatolia news agency reported.

The agency quoted Turkish Maj. Gen. Beyazit Karatas as saying the deal would lay out the legal framework for future defense industry cooperation and increase contacts between the two countries' defense ministries.

Tensions between Turkey and Syria were once high because Abdullah Ocalan, leader of Turkey's rebel Kurdistan Workers' Party, sheltered in Syria. Turkey massed troops on the Syrian border. Damascus then expelled Ocalan and he was captured in Kenya in 1999.

Antagonism between the neighbors had also mounted in the 1990s when Turkey developed military ties with Israel.

Israeli (occupation government) defense minister, Ehud Barak, said Monday that he viewed the exercise "as definitely a worrisome development."

"But I believe that the strategic relations between Israel and Turkey will prevail over Turkey's need to participate in such an exercise," Barak said.

Turkey has long been Israel's closest ally in the Muslim world, and hosted several rounds of indirect negotiations between Syria and Israel last year.

However, ties between Turkey and Israel deteriorated during the (Israeli war on) Gaza, and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan reprimanded Israeli (occupation government president, Shimon Peres, over civilian casualties in Gaza at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Turkish defense ties with Israel include training agreements and purchases from Israel worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

Turkish-Syrian maneuvers disturb Israel

[ 28/04/2009 - 09:13 AM ]

ISTANBUL, (PIC)--

Syria and Turkey commenced joint military exercises on the common borders on Monday described as the first of their kind between the two countries, a press release by the Turkish chief of staff said.

It said that the three-day maneuvers would start on Monday and end on Wednesday in a bid to boost friendship, cooperation and trust between the two countries' ground forces in addition to upgrading border forces' potential of working and training together.

The Turkish announcement was met with apprehension on the part of the Israeli occupation government, as its war minister Ehud Barak described the joint maneuvers as a "worrisome development ".

Israeli press sources pointed out that the Turkish army uses Israeli weaponry including drones and observation and control equipment.

The Syrian chief of staff, Hassan Turkmani, started on Sunday a five-day visit to Turkey during which he is to meet with his Turkish counterpart and other military officials of the countries participating in the International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF'09).

Israel "troubled" by Turkish-Syrian military drill

27 April 2009, Monday

TODAY'S ZAMAN WITH REUTERS

Israel is troubled by an unprecedented military exercise between its ally, Turkey, and its arch-foe Syria, Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak said on Monday.

Ankara announced on Sunday it would hold its first drill with Syria this week, using ground forces in a border area that has been the focus of a 25-year conflict between Turkey and the terrorist Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK.)

Israel has extensive defence ties to Turkey, a NATO member and among the few Muslim nations to have built an alliance with the (Zionist) state. The Israeli and Turkish air forces and navies have held joint exercises.

"Today we see a Syrian-Turkish drill, which is certainly a troubling development," Barak told reporters. "But I believe that the strategic ties between Israel and Turkey will overcome even Turkey's need to take part in this drill."

Turkey, Syria conduct military exercise

April 27, 2009 (UPI) --

Turkish and Syrian ground forces conducted joint military exercises along their shared border in what is described as the first-ever cooperation of its kind.

Turkish daily Today's Zaman said the joint exercise would boost bilateral relations between the two neighbors in an effort to contribute to the capability of border troops.

Ankara and Damsscus signed a bilateral agreement in 2002 that allows both countries to coordinate their military activity.

That effort is in part a reflection of the move by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to ease at least some of the isolationist policies in his country.

Both countries approached the brink of war in 1998 following Ankara's displeasure with Syrian support for the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party.

The military exercise brought criticism from the Israeli government Monday, sparking concerns over the relationship between Jerusalem and Ankara, The Jerusalem Post reports.

"Today a Syrian-Turkish military maneuver is taking place, definitely a disturbing development," said Israeli occupation government defense minister, Ehud Barak, noting he hoped bilateral relations with Turkey would remain amicable.

The military exercise is expected to conclude Wednesday.