File image.
On June 1, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that his country will launch a military operation in northern Syria targeting the towns of Tell Rifaat and Manbij which are controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
The Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) is the core of the SDF, that is also deeply influenced by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Both the YPG and the PKK are considered terrorist groups by Ankara.
Erdogan made the announcement during a speech made to MPs from Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party. The president vowed that the Turkish military will rid both towns from what he called “terrorists”.
“We are taking a new step in establishing a 30 km security zone along our southern border,” Erdogan said. “We will clean up Tell Rifaat and Manbij”.
Erdogan added that the Turkish military will also move “step by step in other regions” of northern Syria without providing further details.
Click to see full-size map. Source: (@Suriyakmaps) on Twitter, Via Google Maps – TerraMetrics.
A day earlier, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar told reporters in the United Arab Emirates, where he paid an official visit, that Turkey could launch a new military operation in northern Syria at any time.
Akar said that the decision to conduct a new operation in Syria will be taken by the political leadership in Ankara. The minister explained that the time to start an operation depends on many factors, including the degree of readiness, terrain and weather conditions.
“Due to the current situation, we see that we have to make some interventions to protect our country. We will continue our fight until the last terrorist is neutralized,” he noted.
The Turkish military and its proxies began preparing for a new operation in Syria in May with Erdogan setting the goal of completing a 30 kilometer “safe zone” along the Turkish border.
Ankara has been eyeing Tell Rifaat and Manbij for several years now. The two towns and their surroundings host thousands of Kurds and Arabs who were displaced by Turkey’s operations in the nearby town of al-Bab in 2016, and the area of Afrin in 2018.
A large, heavily-armed force from the Syrian Arab Army and several units from the Russian Military Police are present around both towns under an agreement with the SDF.
Syrian and Russian forces have already taken concrete military measures near Tell Rifaat and Manbij to deter the Turkish military and its proxies. Yet, Ankara appears to be determined to occupy the two towns and their surroundings. This will not only worsen the humanitarian situation in the northern Aleppo countryside, but could also lead to a dangerous military confrontation.
I hope this operation fails, but any move from Assad will cause NATO to fund turkey to fight him
I hope it does like I hope Russian invasion of Ukraine fails. Like all the invasions of the USA failed.
The US Invasions did not fail. They were done so specific individuals earn tons of money which they did. Thats what the mission accomplished really meant.
Oh and the ukraine war is important cause now the earing continues since it ended in afghanistan they neaded a new place for arms deals.
How did they succeed where everything they did backfired?
Charlie Brown assad can do jackshit he is a puppet… Russia Run the show you know that..
While PIGgogan/MERDolfgan is better? Maybe – like all ITS BEASTY SLAVES-A HUMAN? SHITtila always FARTS from its ‘mouth’!
“sultan” Erdogan, takes on a lot, his lira is in the ass, he quarreled with nato, now he also accuses Germany, the Netherlands and France of supporting the PKK, and not only Finland and Sweden. So no one will help him. And he’s obviously going to break down soon…
ABSOLUTE TRUE! I wish the UNHUMAN GENOCIDALS what those STUFFS did the HUMAN peoples in History! DISAPPEAR AT LEAST!
TURKIYE DON’T NEED HELP FROM ANYONE.and do not worry about our economy we are not complaining ..you just go and screw yourself motherfuker cockroaches
Yes, ‘you’ BEASTS are the best to dig ‘your’ (“it”)selves! Thanks MERDolfgan you (second of ‘IT’) are our favorite BEAST against UNHUMAN GENOCIDALS!
Erdogan thinks he can take land while the other powers are busy. He’s a snake. Middle East always so confusing. Turkey has long battled Kurdish separatists in the east, yet fellow NATO countries have supported the Iraqi Kurds and Russia/Assad support SDF, which is heavily influenced by Kurds. Gives me a headache.
We are seeing the beginning of a rebellion within nato that will end in Turkey being forced\kicked out of the alliance. This will be unilaterally supported and allows Finland and Sweden to join. Turkey will look eastward for a new alliance but Turks aren’t trusted for anything globally …
Only for BEASTY and GENOCIDES
unhuman you still around? How’s your backside last time I done you…🥱
Fart fart fart beastila! One day PKK or SAA will get you and you won’t fart any more, UNHUMAN GENOCIDAL hero very far away from KURDS!
Fiddler on the roof again same old music unhuman go and kill yourself
If Russia can do it why exactly Turkey can’t?
Russia will be condemned for it and turkey praised. But yes of course both can do it.
Is it true that the US is using these forces as a proxy terrorist army?
RuAF preparing to annihilate TFSA terrorists attacking Manbij Tal Rifat and Ayn Al Arab. It will be like battle of manbij 2016 or siege of kobani 2015 all over again, except this time Russian SU-34 will be doing the bombing instead of US Airforce/Navy :)
Will be interesting for Russia to fight a two front war.
If Russian Airforce doesn’t protect SDF, SAA should at least send some BUK and Pantsir to Manbij/Kobani and Tal Rifat. But it looks like RUAF are prepared to bomb the shit out of TFSA terrorists :)
So the terrorist Sultan wants war with both the SAA & SDF now? Foolish move.
With two clown army . Turkey will think about it
You (second of ‘IT’) are going TO SLAIN EACH STUFF THE OTHER AND STARVE THANKS TO THE SHITTY MERDolfgan! STOP FARTING, SHITtila, AND DIG ITSELF (“you”)!
Just bring it on, you human waste.