Turkey, Syria, and Jordan unite to tackle Islamic State threat

• The joint coordination unit was established in Damascus.
• The initiative aims to combat the Islamic State (IS).
• Turkey, Syria, and Jordan are collaborating within the new structure.

Turkey, Syria, and Jordan have decided to strengthen their cooperation in the fight against the Islamic State by creating a joint coordination unit in Damascus. This information was provided by sources in the Turkish Ministry of Defence, with details published by the daily "Hurriyet".

The unit began its operations on 19 May, in response to an invitation from the Syrian government. The goal is a more effective coordination of actions against IS, which still poses a threat in the region. Turkey has sent several members of its staff to Damascus, though their number and rank remain undisclosed.

Currently, the main force fighting against IS is the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), supported by the USA. The SDF controls prisons containing IS terrorists and camps for their families. Turkey is advocating for the integration of Kurdish forces with the Syrian army, which was the subject of discussions between President Erdogan and Syria's interim president, Ahmed al-Shara.

President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, accused the Kurds of delaying the implementation of the agreement on force integration. During the meeting with Shara, Erdogan emphasised the need to accelerate this process, which is crucial for stabilising the region.

The joint unit in Damascus is a step towards strengthening cooperation between Turkey, Syria, and Jordan. Its effectiveness in fighting IS will depend on the ability to cooperate and overcome existing political tensions.

The fact that IS remains a significant threat is evidenced by the latest attack carried out by the organisation. It was aimed at the Syrian government's forces. One person was killed, and three others were injured.