generalspeaking

Turkish Offensive in Syrian Kurdistan

"[The Kurdish-led authority in the area declared a state of] general mobilization [before calling on its population to head toward the border] to fulfill their moral duty and show resistance in these sensitive historic moments."
Syrian Democratic Forces

Smoke rising from targets inside Syria during bombardment by Turkish forces at Ras al-Ein town, in Ceylanpinar, in Sanliurfa, Turkey on October 10, 2019. Turkey has launched an offensive targeting Kurdish forces in north-eastern Syria, days after the US withdrew troops from the area.  (Photo: Sedat Suna, EPA-EFE)

"It [the Turkish military operation] endangers our allies in the fight against terror, the [Syrian Democratic Forces]. It undercuts our efforts to defeat ISIS by drawing these SDF forces away from the battle in the south and frankly forcing our troops to focus on the military aspects of the invasion."
“It creates tremendous insecurity for the entire region.”

“I’m extremely distressed about this too. I’m right up there with the Saudis and Bibi Netanyahu. This was a very big mistake and this has very big implications for all of our security. I don’t know of anybody who isn’t upset with it; a very, very dramatic, very, very dangerous situation.”

"[Since Sunday, there had been] various diplomatic exchanges that President Erdogan has in various ways been involved on."

"[Trump is] trying to find common ground to come up with a ceasefire, come up with a way to bridge the gap between the [Kurdish People's Protection Units] wing of the [Turkish Kurdistan Workers Party] and Turkey."

"[The President would] most prefer [to do] a negotiated settlement."

Senior State Department official 

Turkey-backed FSA fighters are heading toward Syrian town of Tal Abyad from Turkish border town of Akcakale, Turkey, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2019. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says that there have been 109 "terrorists killed" — a reference to Syrian Kurdish fighters — since Ankara launched an offensive into Syria the previous day. (DHA via AP)

According to Recep Tayyip Erdogan, his military invasion of northeastern Syria is a humanitarian mission, to rid the area of what is effectively a "terror corridor" that just happens to exist on Turkey's southern border. What characterizes it as a haven for terrorists is the reality that the population is Kurdish, that the YPG, the people's protection units whose presence is to defend the interests of the Kurdish population, represents an intolerable thorn in the side of Erdogan who links them with his nemesis-militias, the Turkish PKK. All Kurds, by definition, are 'terrorists' to Erdogan.

They are terrorists because they have the unmitigated gall to agitate for sovereignty in southeastern Turkey, their traditional, thousands-years-old heritage geography, part of greater Kurdistan, along with similar areas within the national boundaries of Syria, Iran and Iraq, all of whom refuse to consider surrendering their portions of the territory to its rightful inheritors. Turkey has wanted to invade northeast Syria for years, to establish a 'safe corridor' it would expunge of Kurds. Because U.S. troops were stationed there and because the YPG fought in tandem with the U.S. military, successfully countering Islamic State terrorists, Turkey was unable to make its move.

A previous incursion was temporary and inconclusive. This one has resulted from the Turkish president's furious demands that U.S. President Trump recall American troops to pave the way for military entry for Turkey. Trump considers Turkey an ally, a member of NATO, an important trading partner for the U.S. He leaned toward conciliation, and finally, on Sunday, agreed to Erdogan's demands to vacate U.S. troops; in effect leaving the Kurds, the true allies of the U.S., betrayed, exposed and vulnerable.

"The YPG don’t have heavy weapons (from the U.S.) that would be useful against Turkish aircraft or tanks", a YPG source admitted. “The heaviest weapons we got from the U.S. are some mortar shells, nothing heavier. No missiles, no anti-aircraft weapons, no anti-tank", and against the second-largest standing military in NATO, of an estimated seven-hundred-thousand in uniform, there is an estimated 40,000 members of the YPG, prepared to fight guerrilla warfare-style, like ferociously-stinging mosquitoes against an elephant whose hide is impervious to stings.

People run to take cover after mortars fired from Syria, in Akcakale, Turkey, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2019. An Associated Press journalist said at least two government buildings were hit by the mortars in Sanliurfa province's border town of Akcakale and at least two people were wounded.( Ismail Coskun/HA via AP )

Turkey named its military offensive an anodyne "Operation Peace Spring". An abuse of language matched by the naming of Erdogan's political party, the 'Justice and Development' Party. They have brought 'peace' and 'spring' to the corridor in northeastern Syria with air strikes, followed by Turkish howitzer fire to hit bases and ammunition depots of the Kurdish YPG militia. Any towns and villages that happen to be in the area will simply represent ancillary targets and injuries and deaths among civilians simply the cost of doing war in such a good cause.

The entry of Turkish troops along with their Syrian rebel allies followed with a land offensive against the YPG 'terrorists' is the order of peace-loving Erdogan. A total of 181 militant targets have so far been hit, according to the Turkish defence ministry. Explosions struck the Syrian town of Tel Abyad and the red flare of rockets could be seen fired into Tel Abyad, flames burning near and in the town. Civilians in huge numbers are in flight from the infrastructure carnage, hoping to preserve their lives.

People in Akcakale Sanliurfa province, southeastern Turkey, at the border with Syria, watch smoke billowing inside Syria, during bombardment by Turkish forces, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2019. Turkey's foreign minister says Turkish troops intend to move some 30 kilometers (19 miles) deep into northern Syria and that its operation will last until all "terrorists are neutralized," a reference to Syrian Kurdish fighters. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)

According to reports from the Syrian Democratic Forces, military positions and civilians in towns over 30 km inside Syria had also been hit. While mortar and rocket fire from Syria struck the Turkish border towns where no immediate reports of casualties have yet emerged. As for the Syrian regime, it had responded, when news first emerged of Turkey's intentions, that it was prepared to confront any Turkish aggression. Thus far, no signs however, that Syrian troops have presented themselves, nor flights over the region to share the skies over Syrian territory with Turkish warplanes.

The territory that was representative of at least one-third of Syria that formed part of the Islamic State caliphate is now in Kurdish control, simply because the Kurds were the only fighting forces capable of and determined to, defeat ISIL. And tens of thousands of ISIL fighters and family members are held in detention by the Kurds. Which, since the Turkish invasion, has seen operations against Islamic State come to a standstill.

A greater call for Kurdish defence operations has arisen, to counter the military invasion Turkey has put into motion, leaving the Islamic State prison camps in an unguarded state, with consequences certain to emerge. The U.S. training of Syrian Kurds meant to ensure that tens of thousands of SDF fighters would be capable of stabilizing the former Islamic State areas has also been disrupted. And, according to the SDF, "One of the prisons that ISIS detainees (are) held in was struck by Turkish airstrike".

Labels: 'Safe Corridor', Kurdistan, Mlitary Invasion, Syria, Turkey

posted by Pieface @ Friday, October 11, 2019