A “safe zone” Turkey and the US are creating in Syria is an attempt by Ankara to stop Kurds from forming their own territory. HDP chairman Selahattin Demirtas said Turkey’s operation against Islamic State militants across the border was a cover to target PKK Kurdish rebels. Source BBC
- Iran has recently quadrupled its uranium production, a spokesperson for the nation’s atomic energy agency says.
- The nation has stopped complying with key parts of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.
Turkey is preparing for potential U.S. sanctions over its purchase of Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile defense systems as Ankara considers the acquisition a “done deal,” Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on Tuesday. Speaking to reporters, Akar said the U.S. was still trying to dissuade Turkey from purchasing the Russian-made missiles but Ankara was determined to go through with the deal. Source: Daily Sabah
Turkish National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said that Ankara has sent military personnel to Russia for training on the operation of S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems. “We sent our specialists to Russia for training on operating the S-400, training starts from today and will continue for several months,” he said. Source: Ehamedya
