Erdogan says Turkey to launch 'air and ground' operation in Syria | World Defense

Erdogan says Turkey to launch 'air and ground' operation in Syria

Falcon29

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Erdogan says Turkey to launch 'air and ground' operation in Syria

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said Turkeywill carry out an "air and ground military operation" east of the Euphrates River, prompting US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to warn of an "all-out war" to defend the region they control.

It was Erdogan's most direct indication of a unilateral incursion into Syria since Ankara and Washington decided to establish a "safe zone" there. The operation, which aims to clear groups Turkey considers "terrorists" from the border region, could start as soon as Saturday or Sunday, Erdogan said while speaking at the opening of his AK Party's annual camp on Saturday.

"We will conduct this [operation] on the ground and in the air," Erdogan said, adding it would be in the east of the Euphrates River.
"We have made our preparations, we have completed our operation plans, given the necessary instructions," he said.

The comments came days after Erdogan said Ankara has no choice but to act alone in forming a "safe zone" along its border with northeastern Syria since the United States has "taken too long to act". The NATO allies agreed to establish the zone on the Syrian border on August 7. Despite beginning joint patrols along the border in September, the two have been at odds over several details of the plan.

Ankara and Washington have disagreed over how far the area should extend, who should control it and what groups should be cleared from the area.

Turkey has said the zone should stretch 30 kilometres (19 miles) into Syria and be cleared of members of the People's Protection Units (YPG), a Kurdish militia operating in Syria that Turkey considers a "terrorist organisation".

The US supports the SDF, which is led by the YPG and was key in defeating the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or ISIS) fighters in Syria. Turkey, which currently hosts 3.6 million Syrian refugees, also says it wants to settle up to two million refugees in the "safe zone".

SDF warns of 'all-out war'

The SDF, which is fighting the Syrian government forces, quickly responded to Erdogan's comments, saying it would "not hesitate to turn any unprovoked [Turkish] attack into an all-out war".

On Friday, a group of Turkish-backed rebels fighting in Turkey pledged to back a potential cross-border offensive by Ankara.

Erdogan has repeatedly called on Turkey's allies to provide financial support for the "safe zone", including in his speech at the United Nations last month, but has been met with a tepid response.

The plan is also expected to face opposition from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and from Russia and Iran, Damascus's most powerful backers.

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Scorpion

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Qsd says will retaliate if this happens.
 
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Falcon29

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edited:

Syrian Democratic Forces

I don't think they can do much about it and will just withdraw if US demands them to. Turkey wants a buffer zone on its border and opposition wants to regain back some territory. It will improve oppositions standing if this op goes through.

Afterwards we are going to see political process or some kind of ceasefire.
 

Falcon29

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^^

Erdogan said a month ago that after September if no consensus with US is reached then Turkey will do operation of its own.
 

TsAr

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There are so many forces fighting inside Syria that it has become difficult to keep a count of them.......Turkey is only saying this coz they know Syria cannot defend itself, why don't they attack Cyprus.......
 

Falcon29

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There are so many forces fighting inside Syria that it has become difficult to keep a count of them.......Turkey is only saying this coz they know Syria cannot defend itself, why don't they attack Cyprus.......

It is confusing forsure, and the US doesn't yet seem onboard. US forces haven't withdrawn yet. Kurds are not on good terms with regime or opposition. Nothing has happened yet, however.
 

Falcon29

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Erdogan's call seems successful, US forces withdrawing from northern border areas. Trump tweets about wanting to disengage from Syria too. However, US forces will still be present in other areas in the north/southeast.

 

TsAr

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If you want something from Trump you have to offer him something, he still works like a businessman. I am sure Turkey has agreed to buy Patriot system from US.
 

Falcon29

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If you want something from Trump you have to offer him something, he still works like a businessman. I am sure Turkey has agreed to buy Patriot system from US.

I think he offered to take up responsibility for the ISIS militant prisoners at one of the camps. It is mentioned in the White House press statement. And Trump tweeted that he is frustrated Europeans didn't take responsibility(of ISIS militants with European citizenship) of those prisoners and doesn't want the US to pay for it.

Although there could be more to it like you suggest.
 

TsAr

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I think he offered to take up responsibility for the ISIS militant prisoners at one of the camps. It is mentioned in the White House press statement. And Trump tweeted that he is frustrated Europeans didn't take responsibility(of ISIS militants with European citizenship) of those prisoners and doesn't want the US to pay for it.

Although there could be more to it like you suggest.
USA is back on good terms with Turkey, secondly this would enable them to bring back some troops back to USA which would hold good for Trump in the coming elections.....
 

Falcon29

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@TsAr

Looks like there is not support for Turkey. They will have to do op at their own risk.

 

Falcon29

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Turkey going ahead with operation it appears. Still could be risky and is a brave decision by Erdogan. Considering Syrian regime/Russia and maybe even US will oppose it. We will see how it plays out.

 
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