BEIRUT (AP) — Following weeks of deadly Turkish airstrikes in northern Syria, Kurdish forces and foreign actors are trying to ascertain whether Ankara’s threats of a ground invasion are serious.
After a fatal Nov. attack, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned Kurdish groups repeatedly not to approach the Turkish-Syrian border by means of a new land incursion. 13 bombing in Istanbul. Turkish authorities held the banned Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and the People’s Protection Units (YPG) in Syria responsible for the attack. Both have denied involvement.
On Nov. 20, Dozens were killed in a barrage of Ankara airstrikes, including civilians, Syrian government troops, and Kurdish fighters. Human Rights Watch claims that because the strikes are affecting fuel, electricity, and humanitarian relief, the humanitarian crisis is getting worse.
The most recent was Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin’s visit to Turkey this week to talk about the Syrian situation.
The possible gains and losses for the various foreign countries and organizations participating in the Syrian conflict are listed below:
Because it sees the Kurdish forces along its border with Syria as a threat, Turkey has launched three major military incursions since 2016, taking control of sizable areas of territory.
Erdogan hopes to relocate many of the 3. 6 million Syrian refugees in Turkey to northern Syria and has begun building housing units there. Resettling Syrian refugees who are not Kurdish in historically Kurdish areas would mitigate the growing anti-refugee sentiment in Turkey and bolster Erdogan’s support ahead of the elections in 2019. It would also dilute historically Kurdish-majority areas.
Erdogan has also touted plans to create a 30-kilometer (19-mile) security corridor in areas currently under Kurdish control. A planned Turkish invasion earlier this year was halted amid opposition by the U. S. and Russia.
Kurdish groups are pressing the U. S. and Russia to prevent Turkey from carrying out its threats once more; both countries have military outposts in northern Syria.
Kurds worry that the West will yield this time and let Sweden and Finland join NATO if Ankara is appeased.
This silence in the face of Turkey’s brutality will encourage it to launch a ground operation, according to Badran Jia Kurd, deputy co-chair of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria.
Kurdish groups, which fought against the Islamic State group alongside a U. S. -led coalition warns that a Turkish escalation would imperil efforts to destroy the extremist group. The coalition is currently escorting thousands of captured IS fighters and their families.
In recent weeks, officials from the U. S. and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces stated that the airstrikes had forced them to stop or scale back their joint patrols against IS; however, the patrols have since started again.
Turkey’s military involvement in Syria, spanning over a decade, has been a complex and multifaceted issue, driven by various factors ranging from regional power struggles to security concerns. To understand the current situation, it’s crucial to delve into the historical context and analyze the key motivations behind Turkey’s actions.
A Tangled History: From Ally to Adversary
Prior to the Syrian Civil War, Turkey and Syria enjoyed relatively amicable relations, marked by economic cooperation and improved diplomatic ties However, the outbreak of the conflict in 2011 triggered a dramatic shift in their relationship. Turkey strongly condemned Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s brutal crackdown on protesters, ultimately calling for his resignation and siding with the opposition forces.
This shift in stance was driven by several factors including Turkey’s desire to promote democracy and human rights in the region, its concerns about the growing influence of Iran in Syria and its aspirations to become a regional power. Additionally, Turkey’s Kurdish population, with strong ties to Syrian Kurds, played a significant role in shaping public opinion and influencing the government’s stance.
Supporting the Syrian Opposition: A Multifaceted Approach
Turkey has provided the Syrian opposition with a range of assistance, including military and political support. Turkey has always supported the Free Syrian Army (FSA), a vital rebel organization engaged in combat with the Assad government, with training and supplies. This assistance included enabling the flow of weapons and ammunition and offering safe havens for FSA fighters.
As the conflict escalated, Turkey’s involvement deepened. It began a direct military intervention against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in northern Syria in 2016 under the name Operation Euphrates Shield. The goal of this operation was to stop the establishment of a Kurdish autonomous region along the Turkish border, which Ankara considers to be a serious security risk.
Targeting Kurdish Groups: A Contentious Issue
Turkey’s military operations in Syria have also targeted Kurdish groups, particularly the People’s Protection Units (YPG), which Ankara views as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a designated terrorist organization. Turkey’s concerns stem from the YPG’s control of a significant portion of northern Syria and its potential to fuel Kurdish separatist aspirations within Turkey.
This targeting of Kurdish groups has drawn international criticism with concerns about civilian casualties and potential ethnic cleansing. However, Turkey maintains that its actions are necessary to protect its national security and prevent the creation of a Kurdish state on its border.
Complexities and Controversies: A Multifaceted Conflict
Turkey’s involvement in Syria remains a complex and controversial issue. While its initial support for the Syrian opposition was driven by humanitarian concerns and a desire for democratic change, its subsequent military interventions have been motivated by a mix of security concerns, regional ambitions, and domestic political considerations.
Targeting Kurdish groups has made matters more difficult, escalating ethnic tensions and sparking worries about human rights abuses. Turkey’s involvement in Syria is probably going to continue to have a big impact on the political climate in the area as long as the conflict lasts.
The region has suffered greatly as a result of the Syrian conflict, which has claimed countless lives and caused widespread displacement and humanitarian suffering. It is essential that a peaceful settlement of the conflict be given top priority by all parties, including Turkey. This necessitates addressing the root causes of the conflict, such as regional power struggles, political repression, and violations of human rights.
Turkey’s role in Syria is multifaceted and complex, driven by a mix of motivations and concerns. Understanding these complexities is crucial for navigating the challenges of the conflict and finding a path towards a peaceful resolution.
The role of the Syrian insurgents
Foot soldiers from the so-called Syrian National Army, an alliance of tens of thousands of fighters from Syrian opposition groups supported by Turkey, would likely assist any impending ground operation. The SNA has been accused of crimes against Kurds and uprooting tens of thousands of them from their homes during previous raids, including the attack on the town of Afrin in 2018.
Several officials from the SNA did not respond to calls and text messages by The Associated Press. An official who replied claimed that Turkish authorities had instructed them not to discuss their plans for a new incursion.
The Syrian government’s stance
Though it has also denounced earlier Turkish incursions, the Syrian government sees the SDF as a front for the US and a force seeking secession. S. , which has imposed paralyzing sanctions on the government of Bashar Assad.
Tension between Damascus and Ankara has recently decreased after 11 years due to Turkey’s support of rebel fighters in Syria’s civil war. Damascus has kept relatively quiet about the killing of Syrian soldiers in the recent Turkish strikes.
Why Turkey is invading Syria
FAQ
Why did Turkey invade Syria?
What is the problem between Turkey and Syria?
Why does Turkey bomb Syria?
What happened to Turkey and Syria?
Is Turkey a threat to Syria?
Turkey sees the Kurdish forces along its border with Syria as a threat and has launched three major military incursions since 2016, taking control of large swaths of territory. Erdogan hopes to relocate many of the 3.6 million Syrian refugees in Turkey to northern Syria and has begun building housing units there.
Is Turkey threatening a military incursion into Syria?
Since May 2022, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has threatened a military incursion into northeast Syria targeting the cities of Tel Rifaat and Manbij in Aleppo governorate. The two cities, west of the Euphrates River, are under the control of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a United States -backed Kurdish-led armed group.
Why did Turkey attack Afrin?
The Turks took this as a provocation. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the U.S. plan as the U.S. building a “terror army” along the Turkish border, and threatened to retaliate to protect its national security. Within days Turkish forces began attacking Afrin.
Who triggered the Syrian offensive?
But it was the U.S. that triggered the offensive when President Donald Trump announced the American troops stationed in northeastern Syria would withdraw — effectively green-lighting Turkey’s planned incursion.