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Turkey deploys tanks near Iraqi border

CCTV.com

11-02-2016 12:49 BJT

Turkey’s defense minister says his country is preparing for “all kinds of possibilities” in response to developments in Iraq. Turkey’s military has begun deploying tanks and other military vehicles to the border with Iraq.

“We have important developments in the region. On the one hand, there is a serious struggle against terrorism inside Turkey. On the other hand, there are important developments on the other side of the border,” said Fikri Isik, Turkish National Defense Minister.

During a televised interview, Isik said the tank deployment is a response to events in neighboring Iraq and is part of Turkey’s fight against Kurdish rebels.

The deployment comes days after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned that Turkey would be closely monitoring Shiite militias’ behavior in northern Iraq. He said Turkey is seeking to safeguard the rights of ethnic Turkmens there.

Erdogan said the militia groups could prompt a Turkish response if they “terrorize” the Iraqi-Turkmen town of Tal-Afar.

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