More Saber Rattling around the World.

Turkey’s main opposition party says the Turkish government is set to send ground forces to Syria in the upcoming days to militarily intervene in its neighboring country.

According to Gürsel Tekin, the deputy chairman of Turkey’s main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), the Turkish ground forces are scheduled to be dispatched to Syria within two days, Turkish Today's Zaman newspaper reported on Thursday.

He further elaborated that the forces will be sent to the north of Syria on Thursday or Friday night, adding that he has received the information on Turkey’s plan for intervention in Syria from a reliable source.

The official further noted that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP)’s popularity is declining and it aims to stop the ascending trend of unpopularity through involving Turkey in an “adventure” in Syria.

He further warned against the repercussions of such an intervention, stressing that the ruling party aims to extend its rule in the country by dragging Turkey into a quagmire.

US-based news outlet Huffington Post reported in April that Turkey and Saudi Arabia are in high-level talks aimed at establishing a military alliance with the purpose of intervening in Syria and attempting to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad.
Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud (R) meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on March 2, 2015 (©AFP)

As part of the plot, Turkey would provide ground troops backed by Saudi airstrikes in a bid to assist “moderate Syrian opposition” forces against government forces, the US-based news outlet reported, citing “sources familiar with the discussions.”

The talks were brokered by Qatar with the knowledge of Washington, the report noted.