Syria’s military has responded to reports that Turkish warplanes killed 200 Kurdish fighters in northern Syria strikes with a statement condemning Turkey for “blatant aggression” and waning them against launching any further attacks inside Syrian airspace.
“Any attempt to once again breach Syrian airspace by Turkish warplanes will be dealt with and they will be brought down by all means available,” the statement from Syrian general command warned. The Syrian government has long complained of Turkey and other US coalition members violating their airspace, but this is the first explicit threat to do anything about it.
It could be shrewd timing on Syria’s part, as the Kurds are reeling following the huge Turkish airstrikes around Afrin, and the US, the normal go-to ally for Kurdish officials, is going out of its way to back Turkey on general terms. The Kurds have long seen themselves less as part of the ongoing rebellion in Syria as part of their own faction trying to secure relative autonomy within Syrian Kurdistan, which is also a main reason Turkey opposes them.
The combination of the Kurds not being part of the Arab nationalist or Islamist rebellions and their focus on resisting ISIS takeover has long positioned them separately from the other factions in Syria, and while they’ve sparred with the Syrian government on occasion over specific areas, they haven’t been at overt war with them, meaning Syria’s willingness to stand up for them against Turkish attacks could be very welcome indeed.
When Russian missiles fired by Syrians plunk Turkish F-16s out of the sky over Syria- does that invoke article V?
Not necessarily an Article 5 event. ‘The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in
Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all
and consequently they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each
of them, in exercise of the right of individual or collective
self-defence recognised by Article 51 of the Charter of the United
Nations, will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking
forthwith, individually and in concert with the other Parties, such
action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to
restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area.’
There’s
a lot of wiggle room in there. Turkey would be the aggressor illegally
flying into Syrian air space. Turkey has been warned. NATO members
each have a choice how they wish to join in a response. So it becomes a matter of what response is politically useful for the member to follow.
Not to mention that Syria is not in Europe or North America.
If nuclear Russia was not in Syria the wiggle room would of course go against Assad . Now I don’t think it will . NATO has become a big club of criminals and it maybe takes both Russia and China to back them down .
Absolutely, Eric. The only reason nuclear-armed Russia’s in Syria is due to being called in by the Assad govt to help it defeat ISIS, al-Qaeda and other Jihadist terror groups that had invaded the country. There isn’t any wiggle room here; simply, because, the Russians were invited in to help drive the foreign militants out. Nothing more.
NATO = North Atlantic Terrorist Organization
Not when Turkey is the aggressor nation, then it’s not a matter of mutual defense.
So Assad is protecting the US Kurds?
That is not new. Assad made a deal with the Kurds years ago, that he’d allow them autonomy if they policed it against the insurgents. That irritated Turkey, and was meant to do so, imposing a price on Turkey for attacking Assad.
The US may find itself divorced by Kurds, the same as it is finding itself dumped by the Philippines. The US uses them, and sometimes they have enough of that and other options.
You’re right on target, Mark; and I couldn’t agree with you more. Assad’s been protecting Kurds for some time now, having made a deal with them years ago that he’d allow them autonomy if they policed the country against the insurgents (which they have done). Of course that irritated Turkey .. and was meant to do so .. imposing a price on Turkey for attacking Assad’s govt.
Syria’s a sovereign nation. The only outside nation that was invited to help it in its fight against Islamic State and other outside terrorists is Russia. No other nation has authority to intervene; and, any nation other than Russia who does intervene is guilty of aggression, in violation of International law.
Turkey has been duly warned by the Assad govt that another such airstrike on Syrian Kurds would be met with their F-16 aircraft being shot down. What the Syrian govt needs to do, with Russian help, is to declare a “no-fly zone” in that area where the Kurds are fighting the Jihadists (Russia had already deployed S-400 missile defense systems in that region) .. And, if any Turkish, US/UK/NATO/Israeli warplane(s) violate it, simply use the S400 system to shoot them down.
It would be a grave mistake for Syria to strike any Turkish forces unless it’s in self-defense against them directly.
First, the Kurds are not for Syria, and should not be defended because they are not loyal to Syria. Moreover, this is the American plot for a hall pass to full-on occupation. If Syria attacks Turkish forces, the U.S. will step in. I would expect Assad and Putin to correct this mistaken statement by Syrian general command. Russia has no intention of escalation, especially not until the American election result is in.
It’s about f**king time. Enough pussy-footing around Erdogan. He’s an imperial terrorist and should be treated as such.
Turkey bombing Kurds inside Syria, who are fighting against Al Nursra is an act of war, the UN should be discussing this but cannot since the USA supports all bombing.