“Turkey's
state intelligence agency helped deliver arms to parts of Syria under
Islamist rebel control during late 2013 and early 2014, according to
a prosecutor and court testimony from gendarmerie officers seen by
Reuters. The witness testimony contradicts Turkey's denials that it
sent arms to Syrian rebels and, by extension, contributed to the rise
of Islamic State, now a major concern for the NATO member.”
“Syria
and some of Turkey's Western allies say Turkey, in its haste to see
President Bashar al-Assad toppled, let fighters and arms over the
border, some of whom went on to join the Islamic State militant group
which has carved a self-declared caliphate out of parts of Syria and
Iraq. Ankara has denied arming Syria's rebels or assisting hardline
Islamists. Diplomats and Turkish officials say it has in recent
months imposed tighter controls on its borders.”
“Testimony
from gendarmerie officers in court documents reviewed by Reuters
allege that rocket parts, ammunition and semi-finished mortar shells
were carried in trucks accompanied by state intelligence agency (MIT)
officials more than a year ago to parts of Syria under Islamist
control.”
“Four
trucks were searched in the southern province of Adana in raids by
police and gendarmerie, one in November 2013 and the three others in
January 2014, on the orders of prosecutors acting on tip-offs that
they were carrying weapons, according to testimony from the
prosecutors, who now themselves face trial. While the first truck was
seized, the three others were allowed to continue their journey after
MIT officials accompanying the cargo threatened police and physically
resisted the search, according to the testimony and prosecutor's
report.”
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