Turkey troops to stay in Syria, Iraq 'until border security ensured', defence minister tells AFP

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Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Guler said Turkey will maintain troops in Syria and Iraq until Ankara considers border and regional security conditions satisfactory. Turkey will then reconsider the status of its bases and military presence in the two countries.

Turkey will keep its own troops in Syria and Iraq until border security with its two neighbours has been fully ensured, Defence Minister Yasar Guler told AFP. "We are maintaining our military presence in Iraq and Syria," he said in a written answer to AFP questions. "When we assess that the necessary conditions have been met in terms of regional and border security, the status of our base areas and our presence in the region will be reconsidered."