Turkish troops participating in a joint Russia-Turkey patrol in the Syrian safe zone attacked and killed at least two protesters in the Syrian city of Kobani. The city of Kobani is overwhelmingly Kurdish.
The joint patrols have been facing protests in several towns in the safe
zone, particularly Kurdish-populated areas, where the Turkish invaders
are considered highly unwelcome after last month’s invasion.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported two killed and seven
injured in the shooting incident on Tuesday. Turkey referred to the
firing as the result of “provocation by terrorists.”
More interesting is the lack of response from Russia, whose
participation in the patrols was seemingly meant to keep them on an even
keel. The Russian Defense Ministry reported a patrol through Kobani,
but didn’t even mention the shooting incident. Of course there is no
sign Russians participated in the shooting, but they were still there
and would seemingly have felt that worth reporting.
The Kurdish SDF was deeply critical of the matter, declaring in a
statement “Turkish army is firing live bullets on Kurdish protesters and
killing them in broad daylight.” That appears to be the size of it, and
within the Syria safe zone, the new normal.
This is as predictable as sunrise and sunset. Kobane was turned over to Syrian Government by SDF/YPG, to insure Turkey does not take control as part of 30 km zine. But SDF also cut a deal with US on oil wells/ISIS. Following the deal, Kurds in Kobane started provoking Turkish patrols, then expecting Syrian Army to defend them. They even attacked Russian convoy patrolling the zone with stones.
The only way to deal with. the situation is to get Turkey more involved. Syrian Government did not get the cooperation from YPG, just the opposite, continually provoking Turkey, then acting as defenders alongside Syrian Army. But not under Syrian Army control.
Turkey was right about one thing though. If SDF does not accept Syrian Government command, SDF.will cause problems by impunity of actions.
Kobane, as the author says, is overwhelmingly Kurdish, but it is UNDERWHELMING as population EVERYWHERE else in area US calls its own. In fact, underwhelming to the tune of less then 5%, and in Deir Azzor less then 1%.
They would like to have autonomy in Kobane, but keep the rest too. No autonomy for those Syrians now under their military rule.
This is going to get a whole lots worse before it gets better. Damascus groveling to get Kurds to reintegrate into Syria by being their defender against Turks is not working so far.
But these are early days, and see how things evolve. Some reporting may be exaggerated. Turkey does not control Kobane, so how will it shoot protesters, unless those protesters were outside Kobane and in the 10 km security zone.