Published 22:04 IST, October 5th 2019
Turkey threatens solo army operation in north-eastern Syrian province
As per reports, Turkey's president's threatened October 5 to launch a military operation into northeastern Syria, where US troops are currently deployed
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As per reports, Turkey's president's threatened October 5 to launch a military operation into northeastern Syria, where US troops are currently deployed and have been trying to dissipate tensions between Washington's two allies-Ankara and Syrian Kurds. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's threats have come as a warning that a US-Turkish deal to secure Syria's troubling border was faltering. He said that Turkish military strike against the U.S-backed Kurdish forces can begin maybe today or tomorrow.
Erdogan: Given all kinds of warning
Reports say that Erdogan said: We have given all kinds of warning regarding the east of the Euphrates to the relevant parties. We have acted with enough patience. The Turkish leader has repeatedly expressed his frustration with Washington's support for Kurdish groups in Syria. Erdogan's threats have continued in spite of a deal with Washinton in August to carry out Joint patrols and move Syrian Kurdish fighters away from the border.
The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said that it is committed to the agreement between Turkey and US which promotes stability in the region. Syrian Democratic Forces Mustafa Bali tweeted on October 5th.
#SDF is committed to the security mechanism framework and has been taking necessary steps to preserve stability in the region. However we will not hesitate to turn any unprovoked attack by Turkey into an all-out war on the entire border to DEFEND ourselves and our people.
— Mustafa Bali (@mustefabali) October 5, 2019
Turkey also views the YPG as an extension of the Kurdish insurgency within its own borders and expects the US to stop sponsoring them. The group, which is loosely linked with SDF and forms the core of US-backed Syrian forces against Islamic state. Turkey and the US disagree on size of the area to be supervised and who wants to oversee it.
What does each side want?
Reports say that Turkey wants it, soldiers, to monitor an area as deep as 30 kilometres (19 miles). The US and Kurds meanwhile have identified an area only as deep as 14 kilometres (9 miles). Erdogan has said that joint patrols with the US is not enough and looks to waste time. He called the joint ground and air patrols a tale. Three joint US-Turkish ground patrols have run since launched almost a month ago. Kurdish forces have moved away and have set up local forces to control border posts and have dismantled fortified structures which appear threatening to Turkey. The U.S European Command also tweeted October 5-
U.S. and Turkish militaries are executing concrete steps as part of the security mechanism framework to address Turkey’s legitimate security concerns. The Department of Defense will be transparent as each phase of the security mechanism is implemented. #WorkingTogether #Allies pic.twitter.com/6xOHhlpL0f
— U.S European Command (@US_EUCOM) October 5, 2019
(With inputs from AP)
19:47 IST, October 5th 2019