According to the Russian Defense Ministry, their flights in northern Syria, aimed at targeting both ISIS and the al-Qaeda-dominated forces in Idlib are also spotting a growing amount of Turkish troops and military equipment massed on the board in those areas, warning it appears to be “intensive preparations for an armed invasion” of Syria.
Turkey insists Russia is making the whole thing up, but also insists they have “the right” to put as many troops as they want on the border. The US State Department refused comment, saying they aren’t going to get into “what the Turks are doing on that border on any given day.”
Such an invasion wouldn’t be a shock, however, as Turkey has repeatedly threatened to intervene to stop Kurdish military gains in northern Syria, and those areas of build-up, particularly along the ISIS-held border west of the Euphrates, is the focus of a planned Kurdish offensive.
A ground invasion of Syria would put Turkey even more at odds with Russia, and would also be a PR nightmare for the US-led coalition, as Turkey would be coming to the aid of ISIS and al-Qaeda in a much more dramatic way than they previously have.
Turkey routinely move troops around at the border, however, usually accompanying threats to the Syrian Kurds, and it doesn’t necessarily mean that this is anything more than another round of posturing. Still, it’s clear Russia sees something different about this buildup.
“Turkey has repeatedly threatened to intervene to stop Kurdish military gains in northern Syria, and those areas of build-up, particularly along the ISIS-held border west of the Euphrates, is the focus of a planned Kurdish offensive. A ground invasion of Syria would put Turkey even more at odds with Russia”
No. Actually intervening against the Kurds would have Turkey fighting on the side of Assad & Russia, against a group that is establishing its own zone outside his control.
Turkey could also intervene against ISIS or al Qaeda, which would also be the same enemies as Assad and Russia.
There is no real prospect Turkey means to attack Assad and Russia in support of any of the rebels. Thus, it is the West that ought to be concerned about the potential for Turkish intervention. Keep in mind that Turkey has done this before, settling with Assad at the last minute of military confrontation to fight the Kurds instead.
The government of Syria and Russia haven’t fought the Kurds at any stage in this war. And the Syrian government have praised the Kurds for standing up against ISIS. I don’t see how invading Syria to attack the Kurds could do anything but set Turkey against the Syrian government.
Turkey will never allow any major build up of Kurdish Peoples no matter what faction of Kurds they belong too, Kurds have been persecuted since Turkey ran out of Armenians to persecute..
No matter the “mouthings” by Kurds that they only want recognition within Iraq, Turkey, and Syria
as semi-autonomous grouping within other national governments they all have one goal, an Independent Kurdistan and to hell with other ethnic groups within whatever tertitory they can carve out of ME.
If Turkey is ever to reinstate the “Levant”, as in times of Ottoman Empire , they must support ISIL which contrary toUS propaganda is not as much religious driven but political atits core.
ISIS is but the militant armof that political entity.
Hense it is not just Syria Turkey wants under its control but a Syria devoid of any and All Kurds, and if it takes genocide to do it, why not.
They only have to follow US /Israel/Euros tactics upon Iraq, drive the culture into ground and invite foreign investment into dividing the left overs.