Turkish PM Thanks Merkel for Support in Anti-Daesh Fight

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu thanked German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday for the support in the fight against Daesh terrorist group, particularly for providing military aircraft to Turkey.

ANKARA, January 22 (Sputnik) — Earlier in the month, four German Tornado type reconnaissance jets arrived at Turkey's Incirlik Air Base as part of the military campaign against Daesh taking the total number of German jets to six.

"Our two countries cooperate closely in the fight against the Islamic State [Daesh], the PKK [Kurdistan Workers Party, outlawed in Turkey] and other terrorist groups, and are determined to ensure peace, stability and democracy. I thank Mrs. Merkel for the support that it provides to Turkey in the fight against the IS [Daesh]," Davutoglu said during joint press conference with the German chancellor, broadcast by the NTV channel.

Recently, Germany has recently been deploying military aircraft in Syria and helping with reconnaissance tasks. Berlin's decision followed the deadly November 13 terrorist attacks in Paris.

In August 2015, Turkey began conducting airstrikes on Daesh targets in Syria as part a US-led coalition against the militants. Ankara made the decision in the wake of a deadly July suicide attack in the Turkish city of Suruc, blamed by Ankara on Daesh.

Ankara has also been engaged in clashed with PKK, who are striving to gain independence from Turkey and are designated as terrorists by Ankara.