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| IS conflict: Nato discusses Turkey-Syria border crisis | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Nato is holding an emergency meeting in Brussels to discuss Turkey's military campaign against the Islamic State (IS) group and Kurdish militants. | Nato is holding an emergency meeting in Brussels to discuss Turkey's military campaign against the Islamic State (IS) group and Kurdish militants. |
| Turkey was until recently a reluctant partner in the US coalition against IS, but over the past few days it has bombed IS and Kurdish positions. | Turkey was until recently a reluctant partner in the US coalition against IS, but over the past few days it has bombed IS and Kurdish positions. |
| Turkey is also backing plans for a buffer zone on the border with Syria. | Turkey is also backing plans for a buffer zone on the border with Syria. |
| Turkey's prime minister said he expects his country's allies to show solidarity and support for its campaign. | Turkey's prime minister said he expects his country's allies to show solidarity and support for its campaign. |
| Meanwhile Turkish police have continued to arrest suspected members of IS, the PKK and leftist groups - more than 1,000 over the past week. | Meanwhile Turkish police have continued to arrest suspected members of IS, the PKK and leftist groups - more than 1,000 over the past week. |
| The US and Turkey are working together on plans to create an "IS-free zone" along the border with Syria. | The US and Turkey are working together on plans to create an "IS-free zone" along the border with Syria. |
| As well as targeting IS militants, the zone would also allow Turkey to hit positions held by the outlawed Kurdish PKK group. | As well as targeting IS militants, the zone would also allow Turkey to hit positions held by the outlawed Kurdish PKK group. |
| Turkey says it draws no distinction between the PKK and IS, considering them both terrorist organisations. | Turkey says it draws no distinction between the PKK and IS, considering them both terrorist organisations. |
| Kurdish acronyms: | Kurdish acronyms: |
| Unusual meeting | Unusual meeting |
| Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the creation of a "safe zone" would pave the way for the return of Syrian refugees. | Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the creation of a "safe zone" would pave the way for the return of Syrian refugees. |
| Turkey is struggling with more than 1.8 million refugees from the Syrian conflict. | Turkey is struggling with more than 1.8 million refugees from the Syrian conflict. |
| Under the plan, militants would be removed from a 68-mile (109km) stretch west of the Euphrates River, officials say. | Under the plan, militants would be removed from a 68-mile (109km) stretch west of the Euphrates River, officials say. |
| Such a deal would significantly increase the scope of the US-led air war against IS in northern Syria, say analysts. | Such a deal would significantly increase the scope of the US-led air war against IS in northern Syria, say analysts. |
| The crisis has exacerbated tensions in a part of Turkey where a conflict between the outlawed PKK and government troops has killed about 40,000 people since 1984. | The crisis has exacerbated tensions in a part of Turkey where a conflict between the outlawed PKK and government troops has killed about 40,000 people since 1984. |
| Last week Turkey agreed to allow the US to use its air base at Incirlik to launch air strikes against IS. | Last week Turkey agreed to allow the US to use its air base at Incirlik to launch air strikes against IS. |
| Turkey called the meeting of ambassadors to Nato under a clause allowing members to request a summit if their territorial integrity or security is threatened. | Turkey called the meeting of ambassadors to Nato under a clause allowing members to request a summit if their territorial integrity or security is threatened. |
| It is only the fifth such request in the alliance's history. | It is only the fifth such request in the alliance's history. |
| Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said as he arrived for the talks: "Terrorism in all its forms can never be tolerated or justified. | |
| "It is right and timely that we hold this meeting today to address the instability on Turkey's doorstep and on Nato's border." | |
| 'Outside the scope' | |
| Turkey's cross-border strikes followed a wave of attacks by militants on Turkish soil. | Turkey's cross-border strikes followed a wave of attacks by militants on Turkish soil. |
| In the worst incident, IS-linked militants killed 32 people in the Kurdish-majority town of Suruc, near the Syrian border on 20 July. | In the worst incident, IS-linked militants killed 32 people in the Kurdish-majority town of Suruc, near the Syrian border on 20 July. |
| Analysis: Mark Lowen, BBC News, Istanbul | Analysis: Mark Lowen, BBC News, Istanbul |
| The Turkish government has long been accused of at best turning a blind eye to the rise of IS - and at worst, actively backing the jihadists against the Assad regime. It has always denied the allegation. | The Turkish government has long been accused of at best turning a blind eye to the rise of IS - and at worst, actively backing the jihadists against the Assad regime. It has always denied the allegation. |
| But last week came the suicide bombing in Suruc, southern Turkey, in which 32 died and which Turkey blamed on a militant trained by IS. | But last week came the suicide bombing in Suruc, southern Turkey, in which 32 died and which Turkey blamed on a militant trained by IS. |
| Ankara's strategy is complex. Alongside the IS strikes, Turkey has now bombed several PKK positions and arrested hundreds of suspected members of the group. | Ankara's strategy is complex. Alongside the IS strikes, Turkey has now bombed several PKK positions and arrested hundreds of suspected members of the group. |
| Critics believe Turkey is only striking the jihadists as cover for going after its real enemy: Kurdish militants. | Critics believe Turkey is only striking the jihadists as cover for going after its real enemy: Kurdish militants. |
| Ankara's reluctance to hit IS earlier, the argument goes, was actually a reluctance to help Kurds fighting IS militants. Now both can be bombed, Turkey is willing to get involved. | Ankara's reluctance to hit IS earlier, the argument goes, was actually a reluctance to help Kurds fighting IS militants. Now both can be bombed, Turkey is willing to get involved. |
| Read more: Turkey - from reluctant observer to full player in IS fight | Read more: Turkey - from reluctant observer to full player in IS fight |
| What can Turkey gain from Nato meeting? | What can Turkey gain from Nato meeting? |
| Turkish press fears new civil war | Turkish press fears new civil war |
| Turkey's dangerous game | Turkey's dangerous game |
| Who are the PKK? | Who are the PKK? |
| Turkey insists Syrian Kurds are "outside the scope of the current military effort". | Turkey insists Syrian Kurds are "outside the scope of the current military effort". |
| But overnight on Monday, the YPG Kurdish armed force in Syria said Turkish tanks hit its positions in a village in Syria's Aleppo province, wounding fighters and villagers, reported the AFP news agency. | But overnight on Monday, the YPG Kurdish armed force in Syria said Turkish tanks hit its positions in a village in Syria's Aleppo province, wounding fighters and villagers, reported the AFP news agency. |
| Meanwhile, the PKK was suspected of shooting dead a military police commander in the south-eastern Turkish province of Mus late on Monday. | Meanwhile, the PKK was suspected of shooting dead a military police commander in the south-eastern Turkish province of Mus late on Monday. |
| As Turkey and the PKK continue tit-for-tat attacks, the possibility grows of a return to armed conflict, our correspondent warns. | As Turkey and the PKK continue tit-for-tat attacks, the possibility grows of a return to armed conflict, our correspondent warns. |
| If that happens, Turkey will be plunged into a serious crisis and the West's strategy against Islamic State could be severely hampered. | If that happens, Turkey will be plunged into a serious crisis and the West's strategy against Islamic State could be severely hampered. |
| The week that changed Turkey | The week that changed Turkey |
| 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. | 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. |
| If you are available to speak to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number. | If you are available to speak to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number. |
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