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Turkey-Syria offensive: UK government halts arms export licences to Turkey | Turkey-Syria offensive: UK government halts arms export licences to Turkey |
(32 minutes later) | |
The UK government is to suspend arms export licences to Turkey amid concerns over its military operation in northern Syria, Downing Street has said. | The UK government is to suspend arms export licences to Turkey amid concerns over its military operation in northern Syria, Downing Street has said. |
Speaking in the Commons, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the UK would keep its exports to Turkey under "very careful and continual review". | Speaking in the Commons, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the UK would keep its exports to Turkey under "very careful and continual review". |
The Turkish offensive, which began last week, aims to push Kurdish-led forces from the border region. | The Turkish offensive, which began last week, aims to push Kurdish-led forces from the border region. |
Dozens of civilians have been killed in the operation so far. | Dozens of civilians have been killed in the operation so far. |
Meanwhile, at least 160,000 have fled the area, according to the UN. | Meanwhile, at least 160,000 have fled the area, according to the UN. |
The Turkish government wants to create a "safe zone" in the area, where it can resettle as many as two million Syrian refugees currently in Turkey. | The Turkish government wants to create a "safe zone" in the area, where it can resettle as many as two million Syrian refugees currently in Turkey. |
Mr Raab told MPs the UK government had called on Turkey to "exercise maximum restraint and to bring an end to this unilateral military action". | Mr Raab told MPs the UK government had called on Turkey to "exercise maximum restraint and to bring an end to this unilateral military action". |
"This is not the action we expected from an ally," he said. | "This is not the action we expected from an ally," he said. |
"It is reckless, it is counter-productive and it plays straight into the hands of Russia and indeed the [Syrian President] Assad regime." | "It is reckless, it is counter-productive and it plays straight into the hands of Russia and indeed the [Syrian President] Assad regime." |
He went on: "I can tell the House that no further export licences to Turkey for items which might be used in military operations in Syria will be granted while we conduct that review." | He went on: "I can tell the House that no further export licences to Turkey for items which might be used in military operations in Syria will be granted while we conduct that review." |
BBC diplomatic correspondent James Landale said this did not mean all UK arms sales to Turkey were suspended - exports could continue under existing licence. | BBC diplomatic correspondent James Landale said this did not mean all UK arms sales to Turkey were suspended - exports could continue under existing licence. |
But it did bring the UK into line with other European powers which had already said they would block future arms deals, he said. | But it did bring the UK into line with other European powers which had already said they would block future arms deals, he said. |
European and Nato allies, including Germany, which is one of Turkey's main arms suppliers, and France have made similar moves. | |
The UK has licensed sales of military equipment to Turkey worth more than £1bn since 2013, according to the Campaign Against the Arms Trade. | The UK has licensed sales of military equipment to Turkey worth more than £1bn since 2013, according to the Campaign Against the Arms Trade. |
Earlier, Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg discussed the volatile situation in Syria with Prime Minister Boris Johnson in Downing Street. | |
Speaking after the meeting, Mr Stoltenberg said the arms suspensions showed "many Nato allies are very critical and are condemning the military operation in northern Syria". | |
He added that he was concerned about how Turkey's actions could escalate tensions in the region, cause "human suffering" and threaten the gains made in "fighting our common enemy" - the Islamic State group. | |
Concerns have been raised for the future of some British orphans identified as being held in camps in Syria because their parents were supporters of, or fighters in, the so-called Islamic State group. | Concerns have been raised for the future of some British orphans identified as being held in camps in Syria because their parents were supporters of, or fighters in, the so-called Islamic State group. |
Mr Raab said he did not want to see foreign Islamic State fighters returned to the UK but minors and orphans would be considered. | Mr Raab said he did not want to see foreign Islamic State fighters returned to the UK but minors and orphans would be considered. |