More Warnings From Turkey That They Will Be Launching Military Operations Against The Kurds In Syria

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan makes a speech during the re-opening of the Ottoman-era Yildiz Hamidiye mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, August 4, 2017. Picture taken August 4, 2017. Murad Sezer, Reuters

Reuters: After military shake-up, Erdogan says Turkey to tackle Kurds in Syria

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Days after a reshuffle of Turkey's top military commanders, President Tayyip Erdogan has revived warnings of military action against Kurdish fighters in Syria that could set back the U.S.-led battle against Islamic State.

Kurdish militia are spearheading an assault against the hardline militants in their Syrian stronghold Raqqa, from where Islamic State has planned attacks around the world for the past three years.

But U.S. backing for the Kurdish YPG fighters in Syria has infuriated Turkey, which views their growing battlefield strength as a security threat due to a decades-old insurgency by the Kurdish PKK within in its borders.

There have been regular exchanges of rocket and artillery fire in recent weeks between Turkish forces and YPG fighters who control part of Syria's northwestern border.

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Update #1: Erdogan says Turkey to tackle Kurds in Syria -- Daily Star
Update #2: Turkey Hints at Military Operation Against Syrian Kurds -- VOA

WNU Editor: Any Turkish military operation against the Syrian Kurds is probably going to be very costly .... US-backed Kurdish fighters display heavy firepower in show of force to Turkey (Air Force Times).