Turkey has vowed to eliminate Syria’s Kurdish People’s Defense Units (YPG) militia after it carried out an attack in Azaz, northern Syria on Sunday that killed two Turkish police officers.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said on Wednesday that Turkey would “do what is necessary for its security” following a rise in attacks by the YPG against Turkish forces in Syria. Çavuşoğlu said this rise was a result of the United States (US) and Russia not keeping their promises to ensure that the YPG withdraws from the region. “In the latest attacks [...] both Russia and the US have a responsibility as they did not keep their promises,” he said, adding that since they are not keeping their promises, Turkey will take whatever action required to prevent any attack.
In a separate agreement with the US and Russia in 2019, Turkey had halted its military operations in northeast Syria in exchange for the withdrawal of YPG militia 30 kilometres south of its borders.
The FM’s comments come as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Monday that “Turkey is determined to eliminate threats arising from northern Syria, either together with forces active there, or with our own means.” Noting that Turkey has “run out of patience,” he said “the latest attack on our police and the harassment that targets our soil are the final straw.”
On Sunday, YPG militia launched a guided missile attack on a Turkish convoy that killed two officers and wounded two others.
The attack was condemned by the US on Tuesday. US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said: “We express our condolences to the families of the Turkish national police officers who were killed in Syria. We underscore the importance of maintaining ceasefire lines and halting cross-border attacks.” Price also noted that Washington will “consult with Ankara on Syria policy” because “we have shared interests across any number of areas – countering terrorism, ending the conflict in Syria, deterring malign influence in the region.”
However, the US has partnered with the YPG in its fight against Islamic State terrorists in Syria and has supplied it with arms and military equipment. Last month, the US approved a $778 billion defence budget bill that reserves $177 million in aid to the YPG and covers training, logistical support, and equipment.
Turkey has strongly objected to the US’ partnership with the YPG, as it views the Syrian militia as a “terrorist” offshoot of the Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK), which was been waging a decades-old war with Turkey.
Turkey has occupied northern Syria since 2016 in a bid to remove Kurdish militants, including the Syrian Democratic Forces and the YPG from the region. In 2019, Turkey, along with its Syrian allies, launched a major offensive into northeast Syria, known as Operation Peace Spring, against Kurdish militants in the region.
Turkey Vows to Eliminate Kurdish YPG Militia from North Syria After Attacks
Turkey also blamed the US and Russia for not keeping their promises to ensure the YPG withdraws from the border region.
October 14, 2021
SOURCE: AFP