As the foreign relations opinion battle over the Syrian conflict continues, Turkey is already making moves. President Trump has threatened to kill Turkey’s economy if Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan makes any moves that Trump deems “off limits.”
Today President Erdogan announced “the commencement of a military incursion into syria.” On twitter, Erdogan said, “The Turkish Armed Forces, together with the Syrian National Army, just launched #OperationPeaceSpring against PKK/YPG and Daesh terrorists in northern Syria. Our mission is to prevent the creation of a terror corridor across our souther border, and to bring peace to the area.”
The Turkish Armed Forces, together with the Syrian National Army, just launched #OperationPeaceSpring against PKK/YPG and Daesh terrorists in northern Syria. Our mission is to prevent the creation of a terror corridor across our southern border, and to bring peace to the area.
— Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (@RTErdogan) October 9, 2019
The National Review reported that Erdogan’s tweet used the Arabic nickname for ISIS. “The PKK and YPG are Kurdish organizations Turkey classifies as terror groups.” Explaining the purpose, he continued, “#OperationPeaceSpring will neutralize terror threats against Turkey and lead to the establishment of a safe zone, facilitating the return of Syrian refugees to their homes. We will preserve Syria’s territorial integrity and liberate local communities from terrorists.”
#OperationPeaceSpring will neutralize terror threats against Turkey and lead to the establishment of a safe zone, facilitating the return of Syrian refugees to their homes.
We will preserve Syria’s territorial integrity and liberate local communities from terrorists.
— Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (@RTErdogan) October 9, 2019
The Associated Foreign Press reported that Airstrikes occurred near the Turkish/Syrian border just after Erdogan’s announcement. Trump has confirmed that he will host Erdogan at the White House for a state visit later this month. National Review clearly lays out Turkey’s plan:
“About 3.6 million Syrian refugees currently reside in Turkey, having fled the Syrian civil war. Turkey aims to resettle these refugees in Syria’s northeast, which Kurdish residents say is really an attempt to weaken them demographically by flooding the region with Sunni Arabs.”
In a statement, Trump responded to Turkey’s announcement saying, “The United States does not endorse this attack and has made it clear to Turkey that this operation is a bad idea.”
