Fehim Tastekin, Al-Monitor: Turkish army brass at odds over military operation in Syria
While Turkey was negotiating with the United States to draw a road map for the area east of the Euphrates River and Manbij and also coordinating with Moscow to get Russia's green light for a possible military operation against the Kurdish forces, an unusual development erupted in the Turkish army: Four-star Gen. Ismail Metin Temel, the commander who runs the Iraq and Syria fronts and built a reputation for his leadership skills during the Euphrates Shield and Olive Branch operations in Syria, and Brig. Mustafa Barut, the commander of the Fourth Commando Brigade, were suddenly transferred to desk jobs.
Read more ....
WNU Editor: I can understand why these Turkish generals are reluctant to engage the Kurds. These Kurdish groups have been equipped with U.S. weapons, and they are battle hardened. Turkish casualties will be high, and they will be venturing into territory that will be hostile to any Turkish occupation. And then there is ISIS, where the expectation will be a concentrated Turkish campaign to crush the remaining ISIS forces in eastern Syria, even though there is little if any support for such an undertaking in Turkey.
1 comment:
Notice Turkey got cold feet just after Trump announced his Syrian withdrawal?
Cause and effect? Coincidence?
Fact is the Kurds are still fighting ISIS as of today. They aren't in the slightest angry with the USA or they would pull out from the fight in the south and go north where the Turks are. With US troops leaving Turkey doesn't have excuses for not attacking. Except the most logical one. They will suffer huge casualties, the terrain favors defenders and the Turkish troops will draw Syrian forces from all over that ruptured country into the fight against them. Also the US won't help Turkey, in fact would assist the Kurds.
Post a Comment