US should explain continued arms shipment to Syria, says Erdoğan

Addressing a group meeting of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) on Tuesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that the Daesh terrorist organization’s process of emergence and disappearance is full of mysteries and that the United States should explain why and against which countries it continues to deliver truckloads of weapons to Syria.

Noting that nobody could expect Turkey to stand and watch idly by as the scenarios concerning its perpetuity unfold, Erdoğan said that the Euphrates Shield Operation was the first move to eliminate Daesh and that Turkey was the first to prove that the terrorist organization is a worthless structure. “Daesh is almost cleared from Syria and Iraq. Almost 3,000 Daesh terrorists were neutralized in an area of 2,000 square kilometers in the Jarabulus, al-Rai and al-Bab operations,” he added.

“When we look at the maps of these countries [Syria and Iraq], there has been no progress in terms of territorial integrity and peace. The Assad regime is still there. No result has been achieved in the region,” he said, adding that the developments in the Gulf and North Africa are not unrelated from the incidents in Iraq and Syria.

Regarding the trilateral summit held by Turkey, Russia and Iran, Erdoğan said he will visit Sochi again on Sept. 22 to attend important meetings regarding the future of the region. Highlighting the importance of relations with Russia despite some conflicts, he noted that Iran also considers Turkey’s sensitiveness in the region.

On the case of Turkish businessman Reza Zarrab, who has been jailed in the United States, Erdoğan said that one of the biggest plots was staged against Turkey on Dec. 17-25, 2013, and the same trap was set up in the U.S. as it failed.

“If someone continues to make accusations by using the words of FETÖ, this is because they are playing out the role given to them. If the same circles can still call the treacherous July 15 coup attempt a hoax or a 'controlled coup', we should look into who makes them say such things," he noted.

FETÖ terrorists are led by U.S.-based Fetullah Gülen, who orchestrated Turkey's July 15 coup attempt and is the mastermind behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary.