YPG IS A HUMANIST FEMINIST RESISTANCE

Turkey to launch attack on Kurdish Syria

fb/rl 24.05.2022

During a news conference in Ankara on Monday, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he would soon launch a new military operation along its southern borders to create a 30-km deep safe zone to combat terrorist threats from the Kurdish People’s Defense Units (YPG), an armed Syrian offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) operating in these regions.

“The main target of these operations will be areas which are centres of attacks on our country and safe zones,” the Turkish head of state stated.

President Erdogan pointed out that the operations would be launched as soon as military, intelligence and security forces have completed their preparations.

The operation will likely target the north of Syria, where Turkey has launched several military operations since 2016 to undermine the YPG.

However, the YPG is also known for helping form the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the Kurdish-led coalition, that the United States has greatly relied on to fight the Islamic State since 2014.

Turkey at odds with some European countries

Mr Erdogan’s statement came amid Turkey’s objections on Finland and Sweden becoming NATO members, accusing them of harbouring individuals linked to the PKK group which Turkey accuses of orchestrating a coup attempt in 2016.

Moreover, in his press conference, the Turkish President also accused the Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, of trying to block sales of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey during a visit to the United States.

“We had agreed to not include third countries in our dispute with him. Despite this, last week, he had a visit to the US and talked at the Congress and warned them not to give F-16s to us,” Tayyip Erdogan said. “He no longer exists for me. I will never agree to meet with him. We will continue our way with honourable politicians,” he added.

Turkey and Greece, both NATO members, have been at odds over a host of issues such as maritime boundaries, the extent of their continental shelves, airspace, and ethnically split Cyprus.


source: REUTERS