FRIEND OR FOE?

ISIS Attempts Rebel Kidnapping in Turkey

ISIS active within NATO borders.

ISIS attempted to kidnap a major Syrian rebel leader in Turkey, suggesting the terrorist organization has a stronghold inside a NATO-member country. ISIS failed to abduct or kill Abu Issa, the leader of Syrian rebel group Thuwar Raqqa, when they snatched him in his car following a meeting with a Turkish official. The flagrant attempt to kidnap a rebel leader suggests Turkey has a relatively lax attitude toward ISIS. “I see them living a comfortable life in Urfa; they eat in the restaurants and spend time in cafes. Nobody bothers them,” said a Syrian living in Turkey. Despite the accusations, Turkey has agreed to allow Kurdish fighters to cross into Turkey to better fight ISIS in the border city of Kobani. “Turkey has no wish see Kobani fall,” said foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.