Erdoğan: 15,000 troops on border

“Turkey is ready with 15,000 troops and tanks," Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan replied to a question about Turkey's possible reaction against the Democratic Union Party (PYD) in the event of any untoward moves.

However, the troops are not on the 98-kilometre long border, but in a specific region where they stand ready to counteract the Free Syrian Army, Erdoğan added.

While returning to Turkey from Qatar, Erdoğan also stated that Turkey and the coalition forces are fighting together against Daesh.

Turkey's state-run Turkish Pipeline Corporation (BOTAŞ) signed a deal on Wednesday with Qatar to purchase liquid natural gas (LNG).

The agreement has added a new twist to the current tensions between Turkey and Russia, a key gas supplier for Turkey.

Relations between Ankara and Moscow have been severely strained since a Russian SU-24 bomber was downed by Turkish F-16s on November 24 after it violated country's airspace despite several warnings.

Russian President Vladimir Putin imposed a long list of economic sanctions on Turkey in retaliation for the government's refusal to issue an apology, including travel restrictions and import bans. Energy supplies were not affected by the economic measures.