Turkey expects US to focus on Syria more: PM

ANKARA

Turkey expects the U.S. to bring its power more into play now in Syria after the latest incidents in the war torn country, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim told the U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, the prime ministry said Saturday.

During a phone call Friday night, the premier told Pence that the latest U.S. missile strike on a Syrian regime airbase in response to a suspected chemical weapons attack has articulated the feelings of the world as well as the humanity against the ongoing violence in Syria, according to the prime ministry's press office.

He said Turkey was ready to support the U.S. regarding Friday's incidents in Syria. Yildirim also stressed that establishing a safe zone in northern Syria was also necessary due to possible additional migration movements into Turkey following the recent incidents.

Meanwhile, Pence thanked Yildirim for Turkey's support and said that keeping dialogue with Turkey was important for the U.S. He added that the U.S. wished to cooperate more with Turkey over Syria in the future.

The phone call comes after the U.S. fired early Friday as many as 60 Tomahawk missiles at a Syrian military airbase American officials believe was used to carry out a deadly suspected chemical attack.

More than 100 civilians were killed and 500 others -- mostly children -- were injured in the attack allegedly carried out by Assad regime warplanes in the town of Khan Shaykhun, Idlib province.

The Pentagon said initial indications are that the strike "severely damaged or destroyed Syrian aircraft and support infrastructure and equipment at" the Shayrat Airfield.

Reporting by Ferdi Turkten; Writing by Esra Kaymak