Turkey, Saudi Arabia begin joint military drills

Turkey and Saudi Arabia have begun joint air exercises, claiming it is within the framework of cooperation and military training between the two countries.

The Turkish military said in a statement that the five-day drills started on Monday, adding that six Saudi F-15 fighter jets are involved in the military exercises.

The drills were planned in advance and are taking place in Turkey’s central region of Konya, the statement said.

Saudi Arabia and Turkey are widely believed to be among major sponsors of terrorist groups operating against the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

The joint drills started only a day after Brigadier General Ahmed al-Asiri, a Saudi military spokesman, said Riyadh has dispatched warplanes to the Incirlik Air Base in southern Turkey, claiming that the move was in line with the so-called fight against Daesh Takfiri terrorists in Syria.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Saturday that Ankara and Riyadh could launch a ground operation in Syria “if there is a strategy.”

ME