Washington is worried about the Turkish military’s possible attack against American-backed Kurds in Syria, according to the latest WSJ report. Turkish press reports military is on its way to Syrian Kurdish canton Kobane, once again. The canton’s defense are also being weakened from South West by Turkish proxy Free Syrian Army, also called Syrian National Army.
Citing a reported significant Turkish military build-up and presence, including the deployment of uniformed Turkish commandos, artillery units, and allied militias to strategic positions along the border – near the town of Kobani, or Ayn Al-Arab, the officials told WSJ that the movements resembled those seen ahead of Turkey’s 2019 incursion into northern Syria, with one warning that “a cross-border operation could be imminent” yet again. Some press reports claim the military incursion had already started, after Erdogan heralded in a speech that there is no room for ISIS or PKK derivatives in the future of the region. He verified that Freen Syrian Army is already marching on Kobane.
The development comes amid the boiling tensions between the Kurdish militias and the Turkish-backed militias, despite a pact that was struck between the SDF and the new Syrian government.
The pact appeared to halt clashes temporarily, but new clashes are reported to have erupted between the SDF and SNA factions, with Ankara looking committed to crushing the Kurdish militias and destroying their capabilities.
A senior official in the SDF-led administration, Ilham Ahmed, was quoted by the WSJ saying that Turkey aims to capture Syrian Kurdish territory before Trump takes office in January to force the new U.S. government to recognize Turkish authority in those areas.
Cautioning that “the consequences will be catastrophic” if Turkey goes ahead with the attack, Ahmed reminded Trump of his past guarantees that “the United States wouldn’t abandon the Kurds.” He further stated that Trump’s “decisive leadership can stop this invasion and preserve the dignity and safety of those who have stood as steadfast allies in the fight for peace and security.”
On the other hand, in recent posts to Truth Social, Trump argued the US should stay away from Syria, while praising Erdogan’s strong leadership in his press conference at Mar-o-Lago.
At the end, Turkey wants to wipe out all Kurdish militia at her border in Iraq and Syria, dismantle SDF and end autonomy dreams of Syrian Kurds. At some in this project, Syrian refugees will be “encouraged” to return home, while the prospect of some being incentivized to re-settle in Kurdish lands is not remote.
Erdogan told Nehammer that Syrian refugees begin to return to their homeland and noted that this process will depend on living conditions in that country. “President Erdogan also stated that support from the international community is needed to recover Syria and its infrastructure destroyed as a result of the civil war,” it added.
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