Syrian Militias Enter Afrin, Dealing a Setback to Turkey
- 6 years ago
Syrian Militias Enter Afrin, Dealing a Setback to Turkey
The entry into Afrin of forces loyal to Mr. Assad — the result of a deal between the Syrian government
and Kurdish militias, with the backing of Iran and Russia — has harmed Turkey’s ambitions in Syria.
22, 2018
ISTANBUL — Militias loyal to the Syrian government swept into the northwestern enclave of Afrin on Thursday in support of Kurdish militias, reclaiming the territory and stealing a march on Turkish forces
that have been battling toward the city for nearly a month.
there, no one can stop us." Turkey’s defense minister, Nurettin Canikli, said on Thursday
that he doubted that the pro-Syrian government militias advancing to Afrin were capable of subduing the Kurdish militias, which is Turkey’s goal.
Turkey began its incursion into Afrin a month ago, saying it wanted to clear the enclave of Kurdish militias, which it says are
affiliated with Mr. Ocalan’s Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or P.K.K., which has long waged a separatist insurgency in Turkey.
His aim has been to forge a buffer zone along Turkey’s border
that would be cleared of Kurdish militants and that could be occupied by Syrian Sunni forces who have been in the forefront of the opposition to Mr. Assad.
Turkey said that It limits Turkish strategic options.
The entry into Afrin of forces loyal to Mr. Assad — the result of a deal between the Syrian government
and Kurdish militias, with the backing of Iran and Russia — has harmed Turkey’s ambitions in Syria.
22, 2018
ISTANBUL — Militias loyal to the Syrian government swept into the northwestern enclave of Afrin on Thursday in support of Kurdish militias, reclaiming the territory and stealing a march on Turkish forces
that have been battling toward the city for nearly a month.
there, no one can stop us." Turkey’s defense minister, Nurettin Canikli, said on Thursday
that he doubted that the pro-Syrian government militias advancing to Afrin were capable of subduing the Kurdish militias, which is Turkey’s goal.
Turkey began its incursion into Afrin a month ago, saying it wanted to clear the enclave of Kurdish militias, which it says are
affiliated with Mr. Ocalan’s Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or P.K.K., which has long waged a separatist insurgency in Turkey.
His aim has been to forge a buffer zone along Turkey’s border
that would be cleared of Kurdish militants and that could be occupied by Syrian Sunni forces who have been in the forefront of the opposition to Mr. Assad.
Turkey said that It limits Turkish strategic options.