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IS conflict: Nato to discuss Turkey-Syria border crisis IS conflict: Nato to discuss Turkey-Syria border crisis
(about 2 hours later)
Envoys from all 28 Nato countries are to hold an emergency meeting to discuss Turkey's campaign against the Islamic State (IS) group and Kurdish militants. All 28 Nato members are joining an extraordinary meeting to discuss Turkey's campaign against the Islamic State (IS) group and Kurdish militants.
The meeting in Brussels was called by Turkey, which has become involved in the Syrian conflict in recent days. The meeting was called by Turkey, which has staged a dramatic shift in its approach to the Syrian conflict.
The country, which had previously been reluctant to intervene, has launched raids against IS in Syria and Kurdish PKK guerrillas in northern Iraq. The previously reluctant partner in the US-led coalition against IS has launched raids against IS in Syria.
The strikes followed a wave of attacks by militants on Turkish soil. Turkey's prime minister said he expects his country's allies to show solidarity and support for its campaign.
Turkey, a key Nato member, called Tuesday's meeting of the North Atlantic Council under Article 4 of the alliance's founding treaty. Analysts say a factor in its change in stance on the Syrian conflict are plans - not yet formally announced - to establish an "Islamic State-free zone" along its Syrian border in collaboration with the US.
The clause allows members to request a summit if their territorial integrity or security is threatened. As well as targeting IS militants, it would also allow Turkey to hit positions held by the Kurdish PKK group. Turkey says it draws no distinction between the PKK and IS, considering them both as terrorist organisations.
It is only the fifth time in the alliance's history that a member state has requested such a meeting. In a series of cross-border strikes since Friday, Turkey has not only targeted IS but also Kurdish fighters affiliated with forces battling the extremists in Syria and Iraq.
It will give Turkey's Nato allies the opportunity to work out its goals and motivation, after the country has stood on the sidelines of the Syria conflict for so long, says the BBC defence correspondent Jonathan Beale. Meanwhile Turkish police have continued to arrest suspected members of IS, the PKK and leftist groups - more than 1,000 over the past week.
IS-free zone Buffer zone
It will also offer a chance to hear about US and Turkish plans to set up a buffer zone. Under the plans being finalised for the buffer zone, the militants would be removed from a 68-mile (109km) stretch west of the Euphrates River, officials say.
Officials in Washington told media that the US and Turkey were working together on military plans to clear the Islamic State (IS) group from parts of northern Syria. Such a deal would significantly increase the scope of the US-led air war against IS in northern Syria.
They said an "Islamic State-free zone" would ensure greater stability along the Syria-Turkish border.
Under the agreement being reportedly finalised, the militants would be removed from a 68-mile (109km) stretch west of the Euphrates River, according to the Washington Post.
Such a deal would significantly increase the scope of the US-led air war against IS in northern Syria, the paper says.
Last week Turkey agreed to allow the US to use its air base in Incirlik to launch air strikes against IS.Last week Turkey agreed to allow the US to use its air base in Incirlik to launch air strikes against IS.
Kurdish unrest The Turkish government has long denied turning a blind eye to the rise of IS - or even actively backing the jihadists against the Assad regime, says the BBC's Mark Lowen in Istanbul.
Turkey is struggling with more than 1.8 million refugees from the Syrian conflict. On 20 July IS-linked militants killed 32 people in the Kurdish-majority town of Suruc, near the Syrian border. But a wave of militant strikes has prompted it to take action.
The crisis has exacerbated tensions in a part of Turkey where a conflict between the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and government troops has killed about 40,000 people since 1984. Nonetheless, critics believe Turkey is only striking the jihadists as cover for going after its real enemy: the Kurds, our correspondent says.
The PKK claimed an attack which killed two Turkish police officers on Thursday. It said it was in retaliation for the Suruc bombing and what the group sees as Turkey's collaboration with IS. The Turkish government's reluctance to hit IS earlier, the argument goes, was actually a reluctance to help Kurds fighting IS militants.
Turkish operations in Syria have also led to tensions with Kurdish militia forces fighting IS in northern Syria. Now both can be bombed, Turkey is willing to get involved, he adds.
On Monday Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) said Turkish tanks had shelled their positions near the Syrian town of Kobane.
A Turkish official said recent operations sought "to neutralise imminent threats to Turkey's regional security" and were targeting IS in Syria and the PKK in Iraq.
"We are investigating claims that the Turkish military engaged positions held by forces other than [IS]," the official said.
Kurdish forces within Syria, he added, remain "outside the scope of the current military effort".
Analysis: Paul Adams, BBC diplomatic correspondentAnalysis: Paul Adams, BBC diplomatic correspondent
Turkey's long-awaited involvement in the international coalition against IS, flying combat missions and making its vital airbases available to US jets, has been described as a possible "game changer."Turkey's long-awaited involvement in the international coalition against IS, flying combat missions and making its vital airbases available to US jets, has been described as a possible "game changer."
But if the government in Ankara continues to see no difference between IS and the Kurdish PKK - a position repeated on Monday by Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu - then its latest move presents the rest of the coalition, in particular the Americans, with a dilemma.But if the government in Ankara continues to see no difference between IS and the Kurdish PKK - a position repeated on Monday by Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu - then its latest move presents the rest of the coalition, in particular the Americans, with a dilemma.
For almost a year, Kurdish rebels (the YPG, closely allied with the PKK) have represented Washington's best hope for confronting IS on the ground in Syria.For almost a year, Kurdish rebels (the YPG, closely allied with the PKK) have represented Washington's best hope for confronting IS on the ground in Syria.
But Turkey has no interest in promoting Kurdish success along its southern border, at a time when its own unresolved Kurdish conflict threatens to explode once more.But Turkey has no interest in promoting Kurdish success along its southern border, at a time when its own unresolved Kurdish conflict threatens to explode once more.
What can Turkey gain from Nato meeting?What can Turkey gain from Nato meeting?
Turkish press fears new civil warTurkish press fears new civil war
Turkey's dangerous gameTurkey's dangerous game
Who are the PKK?Who are the PKK?
Militant arrests Unusual meeting
Meanwhile Turkish police have continued to arrest suspected members of IS or the PKK, more than 1,000 over the past week. Turkey, a key Nato member, called Tuesday's meeting of the North Atlantic Council under Article 4 of the alliance's founding treaty.
The clause allows members to request a summit if their territorial integrity or security is threatened.
It is only the fifth time in the alliance's history that a member state has requested such a meeting.
The strikes followed a wave of attacks by militants on Turkish soil.
"The Turkey-Syria border, the Turkey-Iraq border is Nato's responsibility to protect," Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said."The Turkey-Syria border, the Turkey-Iraq border is Nato's responsibility to protect," Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said.
"Rather than an operational decision [at Tuesday's meeting], we are hoping all allies understand Turkey's intentions and for them to support Turkey in its security measures when needed in the ongoing fight.""Rather than an operational decision [at Tuesday's meeting], we are hoping all allies understand Turkey's intentions and for them to support Turkey in its security measures when needed in the ongoing fight."
Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has said the PKK and its allies in Syria are the same as IS and must be eradicated. Turkey is struggling with more than 1.8 million refugees from the Syrian conflict. On 20 July IS-linked militants killed 32 people in the Kurdish-majority town of Suruc, near the Syrian border.
However, both UK Prime Minister David Cameron and the US state department reaffirmed that the focus of the allied campaign in the region was fighting IS. The crisis has exacerbated tensions in a part of Turkey where a conflict between the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and government troops has killed about 40,000 people since 1984.
The PKK claimed an attack which killed two Turkish police officers on Thursday. It said it was in retaliation for the Suruc bombing and what the group sees as Turkey's collaboration with IS.
Turkish operations in Syria have also led to tensions with Kurdish militia forces fighting IS in northern Syria.
On Monday Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) said Turkish tanks had shelled their positions near the Syrian town of Kobane.
Are you in the Kurdish majority areas along the Turkish-Syria border? What do you hope to see emerge from the extraordinary meeting of Nato members? You can share your views and experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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