Claw Sword Air Operation

"Grande Rue de Pera", which means "Grand Avenue of Pera", stretches between Taksim Square and Tünel, and as you know, the Taksim opening starts with the French Embassy. After the embassies in the region were moved to Ankara with the Republic, the diplomatic settlement on the street was reduced to the level of Consulate.  The name of this street, inherited from the Ottoman Empire, was known as "Cadde-i Kebir" by the Ottoman subjects until 1927, and almost all the embassies, embassies and embassies of major states were located on and around this grand street. Pera, which was a Byzantine neighborhood, literally meaning "pearl district", gained its historical importance as a Genoese colony. When it fell to the Ottomans, this situation continued unchanged. While the Ottomans sent a few Latin Catholic churches within the city walls here, they also gave land to foreign embassies to build buildings. Thus, "Grand Rue de Pera" became the most "Western" face of the State in terms of its architectural and demographic characteristics and lifestyle. (1) The name of this street, which was known as "Cadde-i Kebir" until 1927, was changed from "Cadde-i Kebir" to "İstiklal" with the installation of a signboard reading "İstiklal Street".

The May Day events, resistances and resistances, which are worthy of its name and the legacy handed down to the Republic, have been held on this street. Why? Because it made a nationwide, sometimes even worldwide impact. For example, it was also chosen as the target of the September 6/7 events, the Saturday Mothers and the 2003 Istanbul Attacks. On November 15, 2003, five days after the attacks on two synagogues in Tünel and Şişli, the Consulate General of the United Kingdom in Galatasaray was targeted. The Grand Vie Canyon, which is two kilometers long and up to 15 meters wide in places, has been a high-profile target for terrorism. The attack in 2003 was claimed by the Turkish branch of al-Qaeda, as you no doubt remember. On Sunday, November 13, 2022, a brutal massacre took place on Istiklal Street that deeply saddened us all.

One of the most prominent characteristics of terrorism is to instill fear and terror in the public. We have been saying this since the beginning and we continue to say it. Turkey has been face to face, nose to nose with war and war conditions since February 24, when the war in Ukraine started. In between, there is only the Black Sea with its struggles. The brutal massacre on Istiklal Street is no different from the attacks targeting innocent civilians in Ukraine. Let us shout and say in all foreign neighborhoods that this is not only a brutal massacre but also a crime against humanity. All events in the Middle East geography continue with a challenge and a response to it, with an unspoken principle. However, Turkey is a strong country and will respond to what has been done. It is regrettable to say that this response is also a response to the US-backed "Syrian PeKaKaKaKa". It may be recalled that in early October, the National Intelligence Organization (MIT) conducted an operation in the Aynularap region of northern Syria and neutralized Hasan Demertaş, code-named "Koçero Batman/Koçer Amed", the so-called Kobani general officer of the PeKaKa/YPG. Demertaş, who joined the terrorist organization in 2001, carried out activities against the security forces in the rural areas of Hakkari and Tunceli and in the Zagros region for many years.

Demertaş, who was the so-called Dersim Ali Bogazazı regional officer in 2012, moved to Metina in northern Iraq in 2014, was the so-called PeKaKa/YPG Jarablus officer in northern Syria in 2016 and the so-called Kobani deployment officer in 2019. Demertaş, who was neutralized by MİT, was found to have been in contact with US officials in Manbij in northern Syria on behalf of the "Syrian PeKaKa", as well as being in charge of the so-called Kobani region since 2020, during which time he was found to have ordered and directed actions against security forces on the Turkish border. (2) To put it more clearly, he is a bloody murderer. He was also wanted for the murder of a prosecutor. In 2011, Hasan Demirtaş, who had a warrant for his arrest due to his personal involvement in the martyrdom of Tunceli/Ovacık Public Prosecutor Murat Uzun and a civilian taxi driver, was therefore put on the target list by MİT. (2)

This heinous attack on İstiklal Street is surprisingly similar to the 'Güngören Attack' on July 27, 2008. The attack, which took place on Güngören-Menderes Street, a predominantly Black Sea neighborhood, left 18 innocent citizens martyred and 154 wounded. On 29 July 2022, 14 years later, MİT neutralized Nüsret Tebiş, code-named Rüstem, a member of the terrorist organization PEKAKA, who was one of the perpetrators of the 2008 bombing in Istanbul's Güngören district, in Syria. (2) Two things should be emphasized here: first, the perpetrator of the İstiklal attack was captured almost immediately with a detailed intelligence work, and second, the perpetrator of the Güngören attack was captured 14 years later with a meticulous and follow-up intelligence work. The importance of the Istiklal attack in terms of showing the extent to which preventive intelligence has reached is the fact that this year alone, as Interior Minister Soylu has emphasized, over 200 attacks were prevented before they took place. According to the minister, the Syrian terrorist Ahlam Alsharif (Ehlam al-Sharif), who received intelligence training from the PeKaKa, infiltrated Turkey through the Afrin-Idlib line and received instructions from the 'Syrian PeKaKa' in Aynularap (Kobani). The head of the boil is Munbic, Tel Rifaat, Aynularab (Kobani), Ayn Isa. But most importantly, it is the center where terrorism is directed: "Ayn al-Arab".

The fact that our country, which neighbors regions where war or war conditions prevail, lives as an island of peace as a result of the sacrificial work of our loyal security forces is above any appreciation to be shown to them. Thank you, thank you. As the Turkish nation, we express our gratitude, we owe them a lot.

Since the operations that should have been carried out in Syria could not be carried out due to the Russian-American red lines, the Iraqi side was emphasized and point operations were carried out in many regions, especially by MİT. The uninterrupted security strip, which President Erdoğan has clearly declared, starts from Idlib and Afrin, crosses the Syrian borders and goes all the way to the Qandil Mountains in the Iran-Turkey-Iraq triangle. This is the plan. It will be realized sooner or later. Turkey's response to the İstiklal attack was great, and this attack was responded with the "Claw-Sword Air Operation" against terrorist targets in northern Syria and Iraq. The targets were destroyed. On November 20, 2022, the Ministry of National Defense made the following statement regarding the air operation carried out at night

"In order to eliminate terrorist attacks against our people and security forces from northern Iraq and northern Syria by neutralizing PeKaKa/KCK/KCK/YPG and other terrorist elements, to eliminate terrorist attacks against our people and security forces from northern Iraq and northern Syria, to ensure border security and to destroy terrorism at its source; In line with our rights of self-defense arising from Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, Claw-Kilç Air Operation was carried out in the regions in northern Iraq and northern Syria, which were used by terrorists as bases for attacks on our country."(4)

The question now is whether a ground operation should be carried out in the region. It must be done, it is essential. As is known, Turkey has organized 5 critical operations in the region in order to destroy terrorism at its roots and establish a peace corridor. A safe zone was established by the Turkish Armed Forces to control 65 percent of the border and protocols were signed with the US and Russia. However, it seems that the US, in particular, has equipped the 'Syrian PeKaKaKa' with air defense missiles against Turkey, let alone taking the terrorists out of the region. Not only that, but it also allocated an additional 286 million dollars in its own budget to be given to the PKK/PYD. In other words, the relations between the US and the YPG/PeKaKa have evolved into a deepening alliance and partnership. Today, there is not only a US that militarily supports the regions controlled by the YPG, but also a US that is trying to control and build a state structure there and making economic contributions to it.

Can you imagine? The only place where Caesar's Laws are not applied to Syria: Syria is a PeKaKa satellite state. The recent decision in May 2022 to exempt PYD-controlled areas from the sanctions against Syria is a clear sign of this. The Syrian PYD satellite state, which controls almost a third of Syria's fertile areas, water and fossil fuel regions, is trying to establish a stronger will in the areas it controls with the support of the US. This has created a new dynamic that makes it difficult for the Assad administration and the PYD to come to an agreement in the near future of Syria. While answering journalists' questions on the plane after his visit to Ukraine on August 18, 2022, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on improving relations with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and restoring diplomatic relations with the Syrian government, "There can be no resentment in politics. You will always be at peace. You will have the opportunity to meet at any moment". He also made the following assessment clear (5)  

"We need to know and accept this once and for all. Political dialog or diplomacy between states can never be cut off. There will and should always be such dialogues at any time. There is even a saying; 'Do not break the bond even with a thread, let that bond continue. You may need it one day.' You cannot completely disable diplomacy. We need to ensure further steps with Syria. By taking these steps, we will hopefully disrupt many games in the whole region, in this region of the Islamic world with our neighbors."

President Tayyip Erdoğan, who has repeatedly stated that he is trying to normalize relations with the Assad regime, made a similar statement after the G20 Summit in Indonesia and was able to put the situation succinctly as follows:

"In politics, there can be no eternal resentment, resentment, resentment. When the time comes, you can sit down, evaluate and make a renewal accordingly. At the moment, as Turkey, we can reconsider our relations with the countries we have problems with on these issues. Especially after the June elections, we can do it all over again. And accordingly, we can hopefully continue on our way accordingly." (6)

For these reasons, both the Russian Federation and the Damascus regime gave the green light to the Claw-Sword Air Operation on November 20, 2022. Another situation that has changed in Syria compared to pre-2019 is the situation of Iran. The period before the 2020s was a period of Iran's weakening in Syria. However, with the impact of the Ukraine War, Iran has regained some of its previously lost territories after Russia's withdrawal, which has shifted some stones in Syria, and RF seems to have given the necessary permission to Turkey.

When Operation Peace Spring ended, the threat perceived by Turkey from the YPG and other elements of the PeKaKa in Syria did not diminish, and since then, the YPG's direct and indirect attacks on Operation Peace Spring, Euphrates Shield and Olive Branch operation areas have continued.   From time to time, the shelling of the centers of cities and towns controlled by the Syrian National Army, bomb attacks on marketplaces in these areas, and terrorist attacks against the Turkish Armed Forces through infiltration have never ceased. Let's recall, the hospital in Afrin was attacked, the marketplace in al-Bab was attacked, a car bomb was detonated in the center of Cobanbey, rocket and mortar attacks were carried out in Tal Abyat and Ras al-Ayn, in short, so many attacks have taken place in this region over a period of almost three years that in terms of counter-terrorism, the file on Syria has not been closed, unfortunately it has not been closed. In this sense, it is possible to talk about a change in the form of the threat, which has been continuing for some time, not diminishing.

In particular, YPG terrorists stationed in Tel Rifaat have been launching attacks against Turkish Armed Forces targets in the Afrin region. On October 11-13, 2022, the SMO entered Afrin with a few opposition forces and taught the necessary lesson.  It must be said that ending the YPG presence there is the perspective of the fight against terrorism.  However, the land operation in the corridor west of the Euphrates between Manbij and the corridor east of it is a dimension that has a strategic meaning beyond the fight against terrorism.  What is this?

It is the correction of an interruption and disconnection between the Euphrates Shield and Peace Spring Operation zones within Syrian territory. However, the way to create an uninterrupted area in this region that can continue from the inside and enable Syrians to live more comfortably in that region is to establish a connection between these regions.  Therefore, the real importance of the operation to be carried out in Manbij and the regions north of Manbij is not only in the context of the fight against terrorism, but also in terms of connecting the regions controlled by the Syrian National Army in northern Syria.  

Yes, dear readers, there is a civilian government in the region, as specified by the US in the Civil Affairs and Military Government instructions, which is much more efficient than the PeKaKa satellite state, providing all the services that a civilized state should have, from health care to education, from banking to postal activities and even food delivery companies.

Moreover, not only the connection, but also the division of the YPG-controlled areas into two, i.e. the creation of a corridor between Ayn al-Arab and Qamishli, if it can be achieved, can be considered as the first step in breaking the influence of the YPG in Ayn al-Arab in the long term.  Therefore, it should not be forgotten that it also has a strategic dimension that could prevent the establishment of a long-term structure in the areas under the control of the so-called administration in northern Syria, which the US has recently exempted from the sanctions on Syria.  In this sense, the emergence of an increasing terrorist threat, on the other hand, necessitates a measure that can fight the Syrian PeKaKaKa satellite state in the northeast of Syria in a strategic sense in the longer term.  

After the agreement of October 14, 2922, which aimed to unite the opposition forces in the region under the umbrella of the Syrian National Army (SMO), positive progress has been made in the fight against the 'Syrian PeKaKaKaKa'. On November 2, 2022, during a meeting in Gaziantep, the SMO commanders were given two months to form a "joint army, a single civilian administration and a unified security organization".

Yes, dear readers, this is the day of reckoning.  The main framework of the operation necessitates that the main axis, in military terms, the center of gravity of the operation to be carried out by the reinforced Syrian National Army will be Tel Rifaat and Manbij.  Based on official statements, it is considered necessary that the area to be covered by the operation should not be limited to these two regions, but should also include Aynularab in order to eliminate the threat to Turkey in the medium and long term within the framework of a strategic perspective in certain areas. It is also believed that the Turkish Armed Forces should carry out this operation gradually over time.

References:

(1) Serkan Soyalan, “Cadde-i Kebir’den İstiklal’e…” Yeni Düzen, 07 Ocak 2020; https://www.yeniduzen.com/cadde-i-kebirden-istiklale-122630h.htm/ Erişim Tarihi 19.11.2022/

(2) Milliyet Gazetesi Haberler Servisi, “MİT'ten nokta operasyon! Sözde Kobani eyalet genel sorumlusu öldürüldü”, 6 Ekim 2022;  https://www.milliyet.com.tr/gundem/mitten-nokta-operasyon-sozde-kobani-eyalet-genel-sorumlusu-olduruldu-6836473/ Erişim Tarihi 20.11.2022/

(3) Yusuf Soykan Bal, “MİT, Güngören saldırısının faillerinden PeKaKa'lı Nüsret Tebiş'i Suriye'de etkisiz hale getirdi”, Anadolu Ajansı, 30.07.2022; https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/gundem/mit-gungoren-saldirisinin-faillerinden-pkkli-nusret-tebisi-suriyede-etkisiz-hale-getirdi-/2649054/ Erişim Tarihi 20.11.2022/

(4) Sarp Özer, “Suriye ve Irak'ın kuzeyindeki terör hedefleri "Pençe-Kılıç Hava Harekatı" ile yerle bir edildi”, Anadolu Ajansı, 20.11.2022; https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/gundem/suriye-ve-irakin-kuzeyindeki-teror-hedefleri-pence-kilic-hava-harekati-ile-yerle-bir-edildi/2743038/ Erişim Tarihi 20.11.2022/

(5) BBC Türkçe Servisi, “Erdoğan'dan Suriye açıklaması: Devletler arasında hiçbir zaman siyasi diyalog veya diplomasi kesip atılamaz” 19 Ağustos 2022; https://www.bbc.com/turkce/articles/c72kgl416w2o/Erişim Tarihi 20.11.2022/

(6)https://www.tasnimnews.com/tr/news/2022/11/19/2806654/erdo%C4%9Fan-suriye-ile-normalle%C5%9Fmeyi-neden-erteliyor/ Erişim Tarihi 19.11.2022/