Talk to Al Jazeera

Davutoglu on ISIL, Syrian refugees, and Ankara bombing

Ahmet Davutoglu discusses the recent attacks in Turkey, the downed Russian military jet, and the refugee situation.

At this moment, probably no other country finds itself more in the crosshairs of all the dramatic changes sweeping across the Middle East and Europe than Turkey.

Bombs have been set off in Ankara and Istanbul, killing hundreds and leading to direct confrontation with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group (ISIL) and armed Kurdish groups.

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any challenges, any attack, against it.”]

A raging war is going on in neighbouring Syria, with only a fragile ceasefire on the horizon.

Three months ago, when a Russian military jet over Syria breached its border, the Turkish military shot it down. The result was hostile rhetoric from both sides and a tense relationship with Moscow.

At the same time, there are more than two million refugees on Turkish soil, and more are entering every day – all this pushing Turkey towards a showdown with the European Union.

How long can all this continue? Is there a possibility Turkey will lose its patience and order some sort of military intervention in Syria against Kurdish and government forces? And if so, is a military conflict with Russia in the cards?

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu talks to Al Jazeera.

An extended version of Ahmet Davutoglu’s interview with Talk to Al Jazeera.