German magazine claims NSA behind Syria security meeting leaks

A German magazine has claimed a video of a key high-level security meeting on Syria was recorded and leaked by the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA), according to the Turkey-based Today’s Zaman.

According to German magazine The Focus, the video, which was leaked online last year, was exposed by the NSA after it was instructed by unnamed U.S. political leadership to gather information about the “intentions” of the Turkish leadership and monitor Turkeys operations in 18 other key areas.

In the leaked video, Turkey's intelligence chief Hakan Fidan is apparently seen discussing with then-Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Deputy Chief of Staff Yasar Guler and other officials a possible operation in Syria to secure the tomb of Suleyman Shah, grandfather of the founder of the Ottoman empire.

Ankara regards the tomb as sovereign Turkish territory under a treaty signed with France in 1921, when Syria was under French rule.

The magazine added that NSA document called Turkey “both a partner and target.”

“The very politicians, military officials and intelligence agency officials with whom U.S. officials work closely when conducting actions against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) are also considered legitimate spying targets by the NSA,” the documents examined by the German magazine read.