No intention of attacking Syria, says Erdogan

ANKARA — Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday that Turkey has no intention of attacking Syria over its recent downing of a fighter jet.

“As Turkey, the Turkish nation, we have no intention of attacking” Syria, Erdogan said during a military ceremony in Ankara. “We don’t have any hostile intent toward any country,” added Erdogan.

Turkey Tuesday branded its former ally Syria “a clear and imminent threat” as Erdogan vented his fury over last week’s downing of a Turkish jet over the eastern Mediterranean. The two-man crew are still missing.
Erdogan was once a friend and ally of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad. — AFP