The Telegraph: Turkey 'planning to invade Syria'
National Security Council meets to discuss plan to send in troops to set up buffer zone and prevent formation of Kurdish state
Turkey’s security cabinet was on Monday considering plans to send troops into Syria for the first time, turning the civil war into an international conflict on Europe’s borders.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has authorised a change in the rules of engagement previously agreed by the Turkish parliament to allow the army to strike at Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, as well as the Assad regime.
But he has suggested the main target of the intervention, if it goes ahead, will be to prevent the emergence of a new Kurdish state on Turkey’s doorstep. The local Syrian Kurdish militia, the YPG, has established dominance in a border strip across the north of the country in recent month, fighting off Isil.
WNU editor: The U.S. government appears to be clueless on what is happening .... U.S. says no evidence Jordan, Turkey considering Syria buffer zones (Daily Star/Reuters). What's my take .... Turkish tanks are now massing on the border (see above video) .... and they are going to invade. As to who is their target .... Thomas Siebert is correct in his analysis that these Turkish moves are more focused on stopping the Kurds and not stopping the Islamic State, Syrian rebel groups, or the Assad government .... Turkey Plans to Invade Syria, But to Stop the Kurds, Not ISIS (Thomas Siebert, Daily Beast).
More News On Reports That Turkey is Planning To Invade Syria
Turkish govt holds security meeting amid speculation of stronger military action in Syria -- AP
Turkey 'plans to send 18,000 troops to Syria', but it's got nothing to do with stopping Isis -- The Independent
Turkish govt seeks Syria military action, army ‘reluctant’ -- France 24
Turkey ponders possible military incursion into Syria -- Today's Zaman
Turkey mulls bombing ISIL without sending troops to Syria -- Hurriyet Daily News
Report: Turkey considering invasion of Syria to establish buffer zone -- Haaretz/Reuters
Turkey Considering Sending Troops Into Syria To Fight Syrian Kurds, ISIS: Report -- IBTimes
Turkey to establish a buffer zone in Syria to prevent possible YPG and ISIS threats -- Daily Sabah
Turkey to take 'necessary measures' on border security: PM Davutoglu -- Reuters
No Victory against ISIS with Erdoğan in Turkey -- Michael Rubin, Commentary
A Turkish intervention in Syria? Why now? -- Ömer Taspinar, Today's Zaman
It's okay to go after Kurds in Syria but not Viet Cong in Cambodia?
ReplyDeleteWNU,
ReplyDeleteI'm seeing little tidbits about buffer zones also, if true then it would be a recognition that Assad's government is no more than a rump state-let, at best. In the south the Druze would be the key, Israel has given a promise of protection to them. It would be understandable for Israel, Jordan, and the Druze to keep ISIS and Hezbollah off the Golan.
In the north the Kurds must wonder if they are about to get hammered by Turkey with implicit ISIS cooperation. Well maybe we'll find out just how good the Turkish military is, I suspect not as good as some assume.
The Israeli promise to protect the Druze surprised me. I guess they have now calculated that Assad will soon will be gone, and it is best to align oneself with those communities that may act as a buffer zone against your enemies. Mind you .... Israel did the same thing with the Christian communities in the south of Lebanon in the 1980s .... and they are now gone.
ReplyDeleteYes, the SLA is no more. The Israelis would have protected them forever (not out of love) except for the international community pressuring them to leave.
ReplyDeleteThe same __________ (fill in the blank) community did not pressure Syria to withdraw. They interfered with Lebanese politics for years. Apparently, they car bombed Lebanese politicians for fun.
Less than 2 years Kerry and Pelosi started a charm offensive to rehabilitate Assad. Nice politicians those. With pols like those, america needs no enemies
Car Bomb Kills Another Anti-Syria Politician in Beirut
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/28/world/middleeast/beirut-explosion.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
Remembering Nancy Pelosi’s Syria Junket
https://www.commentarymagazine.com/2012/04/02/nancy-pelosi-syria-junket/