+ A
A -
QNA/AFP
Doha
Qatar has thrown its weight behind Turkey's military offensive against Kurdish militia in Syria, coming to the defence of the"national security" of one of its closest allies.
"Qatar reaffirmed its support for the efforts of Turkey to maintain its national security in the wake of the breaches and terrorist attacks carried out inside Turkish territories," Qatar's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson HE Lulwah al Khater said.
Turkey's launch of 'Operation Olive Branch' was"driven by legitimate concerns related to its national security and securing its borders, as well as protecting the territorial integrity of Syria from the danger of secession", Khater added.
Qatar's announcement came as Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed to step up an offensive against Kurdish targets in neighbouring Syria and Iraq.
Khater said the operation comes as the Turkish territories were subjected to several infiltrations and terrorist attacks that the Turkish government saw some of which to be connected to the security and military component present on the Turkish-Syrian border.
Khater said Qatar expresses its full support for the right of states to defend their national security, which is guaranteed by international conventions, including Article 51 of the UN Charter.
Turkey, a main member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, has always been a stabilising and balancing factor in the region, she said. Qatar is confident of Turkey's keenness to ensure the safety of civilians and maintain the territorial integrity of Syria.
The Foreign Ministry Spokesperson said the war on the ISIS group is nearing its end, so all actors in the Syrian crisis must reach permanent solutions that take into account achieving justice for the Syrian people and holding accountable those who committed crimes against them.
