Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Monday announced that Ankara will soon launch a military operation against Kurdish militants in northern Syria. The move comes amid Turkey’s refusal to grant Finland and Sweden entry into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) over their harbouring of Kurdish militants.
Erdoğan said during a press conference that Turkey will take steps to resume efforts to complete a 30-kilometre stretch along a proposed “safe zone” on its border with Syria. Erdoğan said the measure aims to secure the Turkish-controlled buffer areas in northern Syria against Kurdish militants.
“Areas which are the main targets of frequent attacks, harassments and traps constitute our operations’ priorities,” he emphasised. “These operations will start as soon as our military, intelligence, and security units complete their preparations.”
Turkey has occupied northern Syria since 2016 in a bid to remove Kurdish militants, including the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the People’s Defence/Protection Units (YPG) from the region. Since then, Turkey has launched three major operations in the area carved out by the Kurds, collectively known as Rojava, following the Syrian civil war.
Turkey launched Operation Euphrates Shield in 2016 to push YPG fighters out of Afrin and Manbij. The following year, Turkish forces and its Syrian proxies conducted a major offensive in Afrin called Operation Olive Branch. In 2019, Turkey, along with its Syrian allies, launched a major offensive into northeast Syria, known as Operation Peace Spring, against Kurdish militants in Ras al-Ain and Tal Abyad.
However, in a separate agreement with the US and Russia in 2019, Turkey halted its military operations in northeast Syria in exchange for the withdrawal of YPG militants 30 kilometres south of its borders. Despite this, Kurdish militants have on several occasions targeted Turkish troops stationed in Rojava.
In October 2021, Turkey vowed to eliminate YPG from the region after the militia launched an attack in Azaz, northern Syria that killed two Turkish police officers.
Turkish President Erdogan threatens another operation in northeast Syria to establish 30-km safe zone. It comes amidst upcoming Turkish elections in 2023 and Turkish objections to Swedish & Finnish NATO membership.
— Wladimir (@vvanwilgenburg) May 23, 2022
Also Read: Turkey’s Invasion of Northern Iraq Could Lead to the Region’s Next Big Humanitarian Crisis
Turkey has also conducted operations against Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants holed up in Iraq’s Kurdistan region. In April, Turkey launched Operation Claw Lock against the PKK.
Turkey considers both the YPG and the PKK as terrorist organisations that are major threats to its national security and hence have defended its actions against the groups, despite international criticism over humanitarian concerns.
President @RTErdogan:
— Republic of Türkiye Directorate of Communications (@Communications) May 23, 2022
"The areas that stand as the main center of attacks, harassment, and traps against our country and our safe zones are at the top of our operational priority."
Erdoğan’s announcement comes as tensions between Turkey and NATO countries rise over Ankara’s opposition to Finland and Sweden’s membership in the alliance over their refusal to extradite PKK and YPG “terrorists.” Furthermore, Sweden levelled an arms embargo against Turkey back in 2019 over its operations against the Kurdish militants in Syria.
He said during the press conference that Finland and Sweden should show “explicit signs” that they are willing to take action against Kurdish militants before Turkey agrees to their NATO membership. “Those who back, and provide every kind of support to, terrorist organizations that pose a threat to Turkey should first of all abandon their unlawful, insincere and arrogant attitude towards us,” Erdoğan declared.
Erdogan says a new Turkish military operation will soon begin to establish a safe zone 30km deep in Northern Syria where Turkey has no control.
— Ragıp Soylu (@ragipsoylu) May 23, 2022
He means remaining YPG / SDF controlled areas pic.twitter.com/1Pr8trrldf
“Our approach to NATO’s enlargement originates not from bigotry or animosity but from our principled stance on combatting terrorism,” the President insisted.
However, he added that Turkey will reverse its position if it sees both Nordic countries take steps against PKK and YPG members and supporters. “May no one have any doubts whatsoever that we as Turkey will do our part once we see concrete practices indicating such a change,” the President said.
Erdogan added TR will soon complete “missing part” of the buffer zone Turkey has been creating in 30km inside of north Syria.
— ilhan tanir (@WashingtonPoint) May 23, 2022
This part includes Kobane & under primarily Russian influence.
(If West doesnt give any goodies, will Erdogan turn to partner w/Russia & take more land?) pic.twitter.com/lfrWkulnaP
Moreover, referring to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ call during his recent trip to Washington to cancel F-16 sales to Turkey over its position on Finland and Sweden, Erdoğan said Greece is a route for “FETÖ terrorists,” referring to supporters of exiled Turkish cleric Fethullah Gülen, who Turkey accuses of organizing the failed 2016 coup.
In this regard, Erdoğan said that scheduled dispute resolution talks with Greece have now been cancelled, noting that “Mitsotakis no longer exists for me.” He added, “I don’t accept any such meeting with him anymore because we walk on the same path with honorable politicians who have character and who keep their promises.”