President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey has declared the continuation of military operations in Syria and Iraq. The announcement was made on Tuesday evening following the first cabinet meeting of the year at the Presidential Complex in Ankara.
Erdogan said Turkey was determined to eliminate the threat from Kurdish militants “at its source” in Iraq and Syria. It was not clear if Ankara, which has carried out land offensives in the past, is contemplating a new ground operation. Yet, Turkish media sources widely interpreted his comments as the harbinger of a new ground offensive in North-East Syria, in the Kurdish populated areas, to eliminate the alleged threat from Syrian Kurdish political entity PYD/YPG. Turkey labels PYD/YPG as a terrorist organization and an extension of PKK.
“Our operations will continue until every inch of the mountains in northern Iraq that have become the source of terrorist actions … are secured,” he said. “In the same way, we will not stop until the terror nests in Syria … are completely destroyed.”
During his speech, Erdoğan subtly critiqued those he perceives as attempting to create a ‘terrorist state’ in the region. This remark aligns with discussions in pro-government media, suggesting US unease with Turkey’s military actions.
The President highlighted the strategic importance of Turkey’s cross-border military activities. He suggested that these operations are crucial for Turkey’s national security and the safety of its citizens. Erdoğan also asserted that these operations have been effective in preventing the creation of a terrorism corridor and in protecting Turkey from potential internal instability due to irregular migration.
Some analyst claim another incursion into Syria would be a convenient tool to consolidate the Islamist-conservative voter base ahead of the critical municipal elections by the end of March. While not all candidates for all provinces have been nominated yet, CHP seems ahead in most polling in key battleground cities like Istanbul and Ankara.
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