Turkey could join Iraq's Mosul offensive against ISIL

Turkey will continue to assess whether or not to take part in an international military operation to retake Mosul from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), Defense Minister ?smet Y?lmaz said on March 2.

Turkey is part of the collation against ISIL and "has started to make concrete contribution," Y?lmaz told reporters, amid speculation about the planned operation to force the jihadists out of Mosul.

"We'll carry out the evaluation for further contribution in due course, based on our national interests. Ultimately we'll fulfill our responsibility as a coalition member," he added.

Citing recent remarks by Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu, ?smet Y?lmaz said Turkey was "ready to fulfill its responsibilities if others do so too," adding that he would be traveling to Iraq on March 4 to visit both Baghdad and Arbil.

The exiled governor of Mosul, Atheel al-Nujaifi, claimed on March 1 that Ankara will take part in the offensive aiming to retake Mosul from ISIL.  

Speaking to Iraqi Kurdish online news website Rudaw, al-Nujaifi said Turkey had agreed to send weapons and supplies to recapture Mosul, which has been under the control of ISIL since June 2014.

A Turkish source told daily Hürriyet that Turkey will not send land troops to the operation that a U.S. official said could start as early as April. However, the source added that sending "logistical and ammunition support" is possible.

Meanwhile, Defense Minister Y?lmaz also touched on the recent deal to train and equip moderate Syrian opposition fighters in Turkey, stating that Ankara and Washington will establish a commission to decide who to train.