On Tuesday, the US State Department announced the extension of the ceasefire between Syria’s Kurdish SDF and Turkey’s allies. The initial ceasefire expired, but the new one was supposed to continue to the end of the week.
It doesn’t seem to have lasted even a whole day, however, with Turkey and their allies carrying out multiple attacks against Kurdish forces in and around the northern city of Kobani and the town of Manbij. Heavy fighting has been reported around Manbij, with at least 21 pro-Turkish fighters reported killed, and an unspecified number of SDF members and affiliates with the Manbij Military Council also killed in the clashes.
Turkey was said to have provided air support for the Manbij attack, and artillery fire was also reported across the Aleppo Province. With Turkey also reported amassing troops along the Aleppo border in recent days, a broader military operation is seen as very likely.
Turkey’s direct involvement in violating the ceasefire has been substantial today. In addition to backing and participating in the Manbij fighting with air support, Turkish drones reportedly attacked Kobani FM, a Kurdish radio station in Kobani. The radio station was damaged, but there were no casualties in that strike.
Turkey and their allies, collectively known as the Syrian National Army (SNA), hold territory in Syria’s northeast, but have gained considerable influence having backed the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in the takeover of most of the country. HTS officials are already suggesting that stamping out Kurdish separatists is a near-term goal, and that Turkish involvement in Syria’s reconstruction is a priority.
US officials have been trying to reassure the Kurds that they don’t face any immediate threats to existence from Turkey’s allies, despite Turkish officials saying the “elimination” of the SDF’s largest faction, the YPG, is their strategic goal.
Today’s fighting, coming a day after the ceasefire “extension,” suggests Turkey’s goals haven’t changed in northern Syria, and those goals are very bad for the US-backed SDF. With so many Turkish forces and heavy weapons deployed at the border, it seems this may just be the tip of the iceberg.
It’s amazing how Turkey condemns Israel’s treatment of Palestinians while simultaneously working with Israel.
Both are aligned against Armenia, and Russia doesn’t know quite where to stand.
Russians like the Kurds are hopelessly devoted that Turks will come around eventually.
Maybe the last 12 times when Turkey tried to invade Russia wasn’t enough clue that Turks still want a piece of that Russian pie.
Russians like the Kurds are hopelessly devoted that Turks will come around eventually.
Maybe the last 12 times when Turkey tried to invade Russia wasn’t enough clue that Turks still want a piece of that Russian pie.
Greater Turkey!
Distinguishing facts from fiction is hard with so much misinformation. To start with, the most hillarious — the myth of Turkey wirking wth Israel. Any data to substantiate that?
Another hillarious one — HTS has overrun the country. And to boot — Turkey has funded HTS, and is the boss.
Any data to support this hash?
HTS has from its Aleppo days been a Westen project. British quite visible, bringing White Helmet special ops as needed. But funding is coming from many other western countries.
HTS never contolled all Idlib, and has according to Wikipedia 15,000 militants. Some of the worst groups under its umbrella, like Al-Zinke.
Now, 15,000 became 30,000. Let us multiply this — still this is miniscule number to control the country. This number may be enough to police Damascus — provided they are disciplined enough not to engage in a spot of headchoppoing and looting.
Other Idlib groups joined Turkish controlled soecial Syrian corps. In fact — in March there were protests against HTS. Idlb administrator pardoned all those HTS accussed of attacking them.
This man, Mohammed Al-Bashir is supported by Turkey and is today the interim President of Syria.
Glamorized Al-Joulani was well spoken, in CNN interview. A Zelenski clad “opposition leader”, with power that Turkey can abridge if necessary.
It seems that Turkey is essentially the elephant in the room. The published numbers of Turkey recruited Syrian corps — renamed Syrian National Army is per Wikipedia 100,000.
It is more than obvious that Syrian Army that stood down will eventually merge with Turkish led SNA. Or other way around. When and modalities — TBD. That adds another 275,000.
And additionally, Turkey is amassing its own troups accross Syrian border. Israel’s destruction of Syrian Army assets will not prevent Turkey from arming them.
Clash with Kurds is only a prelude to a much larger operation. According to former Deputy Secretary of Defense, Freeman, Turkey and Israel are heading into conflict. Israel’s entry into Lebanon and Syria are Turkish red lines. Israel’s territorial expansion together with US support for Kurdish secessionism taken together resulted in an existential threat to Turkey,
One can ask a question if Assad’s departure, and Syrian army standing down were moves coordinated with Turkey,. Without Assad, a clean slate has been created — allowing Turkey not only to fill the vacuum, but to create conditions for support from countries in the region should Turkey confront Israel over Syria and Lebanon.
Now the dust has settled, isn't it the case this was a USof Israel + Turkey operation; and now these must contend for/agree upon the division of the spoils?
Seems that the SDF are resisting in the Manbij Canton:
It's rare to see a war where I hope both sides will be hurt as much as possible. Whether it's the al-Qaeda occupiers or the Marxist PKK/YPG occupiers, go for it.
I didn’t save the link, and he didn’t share a link, but from Lord Bebo yesterday: