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The US on Monday ruled out plans to create a no-fly zone along the Syria-Turkey border, brushing aside rumors that it is in talks with Turkey about creating a safe haven for refugees.
According to US President Barack Obama’s spokesman Josh Earnest, the US was “open to discussing a range of options with the Turks” but that a no-fly zone over Syria was not on the table “at this point”.
Turkey has been calling for a buffer zone inside Syria to shelter Syrians from the three-way tussle between the Syrian regime’s forces, the Syrian rebels and extremist group Islamic State. However, it has not been able to persuade its NATO ally into implementing the plan. US media reports this weekend suggested that Washington might be changing its stance on the issue, but Earnest insisted that it was not the case.
The Wall Street Journal had reported that as part of a deal between Turkey and the US, a protected “safe zone” along the Syria-Turkey border will be set up, which would be off-limits to Syrian regime aircraft. In exchange, US aircraft would use the Incirlik base and other air bases in Turkey to patrol the zone.
The reports came in as US Secretary of State John Kerry was leaving for Brussels to speak with ministers from the 60-strong global coalition fighting the IS on Wednesday. He is accompanied by General John Allen, the US’ point-man in forging the coalition to counter the group.
“It’s an opportunity to take stock of where things stand, obviously discuss what needs to happen from here, provide updates on where countries stand”, US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.
Psaki added that the US was mulling over several options including a no-fly zone, but insisted that discussions were “ongoing”.
“We continue to have differences (with Turkey). We haven’t made a decision about a specific course of implementation, we’re just continuing to have a discussion with Turkey”, she said.