Turkey confirms pact with Saudi to help anti-Assad rebels

[Bosonic]

Source: AP

ISTANBUL: Turkish officials are confirming that their country has forged an alliance with Saudi Arabia to help rebels fighting the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

The pact, which provides rebels logistical and financial support, is a concern for a U.S. administration wary of empowering radical Islamist groups in Syria.

Turkey and Saudi Arabia have been at odds over how to deal with Assad, their common enemy. But mutual frustration with what they consider American indecision has brought the two together in a strategic alliance that is driving recent rebel gains in northern Syria, Turkish officials say.

The Obama administration worries that the revived rebel alliance could potentially put a more dangerous radical Islamist regime in Assad's place, just as the U.S. is focused on bring down ISIS.

Read more: https://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2015/May-07/297129-turkey-confirms-pact-with-saudi-to-help-anti-assad-rebels.ashx

[Comrade Grumpy]

1. No wonder Turkey ignores ISIS on its border.

And the House of Saud is a pox upon the planet. Bombing Yemen, helping to turn Syria into a charnel house, exporting their dreadful extremist religious ideology.

I think the US should switch strategic alliances in the region and start buddying up to Iran. It's much more sane and responsible, even if reprehensible in some ways.

[samsingh]

2. isn't that isis? i can't keep track

[FairWinds]

3. This could get MUCH more ugly than it already is . .

mass killings of Alawites, Christians & Shia.

Ten million refugees.

The US owns a good chunk of the responsibility for this.