Turkey Will Launch Syria Offensive If US Delays Pullout

Turkey’s plans to invade eastern Syria will be going forward with or without a US pullout, according to top officials. Though the initial plan was to put off the invasion for a US withdrawal, increasing uncertainty about that US departure from Syria.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu accused the US of delaying the withdrawal, and said that if they make “ridiculous excuses like Turks are massacring Kurds, which do not reflect reality,” Turkey will invade anyhow.

The entire US decision to withdraw from Syria came after a talk between President Trump and Turkey’s President Erdogan, after Erdogan announced a planned invasion. The idea was for the US troops to get out of the way of the invasion.

It’s not clear what the plan is now, as indications are that the US coordination with Turkey didn’t go anywhere, and John Bolton’s statements on Turkey targeting Kurds sparked a lot of anger. All told, there seems to be little coordination at all, and growing impatience on Turkey’s side.

While it’s clear invading with the US troops still around is not ideal for either the US or Turkey, the two sides seem to be struggling to stay on the same page.