Is an Operation in Syria Mandatory?

YPG, PKK's Syrian Extension:

Is the operation in Syria necessary or not? You might also ask, is it essential? Even more so, you can deepen your question why now. That's the million dollar question that needs to be answered. Yes, dear readers, first of all, I must say that the operation in Syria is both necessary, or in other words, essential, and must be carried out in this conjuncture that is formed and/or created. The Syrian extension of PeKaKa, which draws a satellite statelet profile with the support of the USA in nearly twenty percent of the Syrian territory, is in a state of disrepair. The YPG, which Turkey sees as the most important threat in its Syria strategy, is seen as the most important actor in the war against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) for many countries, including NATO members. Let's not forget that in many European countries and the USA, representative offices of its political wing have been opened. In the founding declaration of 2010, this region was referred to as "Holy Rojava" (Holy Western Kurdistan) in the words of PeKaKa leader Abdullah Öcalan. Nothing is tolerated in their attacks targeting Turkey, of course, they are reported on the spot and on time. But not enough.

PYD: Democratic Union Party

The USA-supported Syrian PeKaKa, which has presented itself to the world public as the Democratic Union Party (PYD), thinks that they are besieging Turkey together with the Greek Cypriots of Southern Cyprus (GKRK). Oh no that US bloat? The stern sails are puffing up behind them, but let's just say, it's outwardly. However, it should not be forgotten that there is a Turkey against them, which has fought the national liberation war against seven heifers.

Let's see what's going on now, shall we? The US wants to create an autonomous Kurdish region in northern Syria for the time being, and despite all Turkey's objections, the Syrian branch of PeKaKa, the PYD/YPG's armed force, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDG), in alliance with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDG), is fighting against the studio project DAESH. draws the image. Let's say, this perception operation has been and is quite successful in convincing the world public opinion. Let alone that the USA has provided all kinds of assistance to the Syrian PeKaKa, including weapons, vehicles, equipment, military equipment and money, there is no one left in the world who has not heard of the region.

Operations carried out by the Turkish Army in the North of Syria:

The Republic of Turkey, on the other hand, saw this situation as a threat to its survival, and with the Free Syrian Army (FSA) on 24 August 2016, five weeks after the international law-based coup of 15 July 2016; first the “Operation Euphrates Shield”; after that, the "Operation Olive Branch" on January 20, 2018, the "Operation Peace Spring" on October 9, 2019, and the "Spring Shield" operation, which took control of 3,394 square kilometers and 370 residential areas on February 27, 2020, and the "Pençe" on June 15, 2020. Eagle” and finally on April 19, 2022, in order to guarantee the border security of our country in the Iraqi region, it carried out a comprehensive “Operation Claw-Eagle” in the regions used by PeKaKa as a base and preparation.

Turkey's stance in the region is clear. It is to build an uninterrupted security zone on the Syria-Iraq and Iran border. The "Turkish Security Forces" participating in the operation do not bombard the mountain, especially the proactive deep operation is carried out, in which signals and electronic intelligence are intensively used against point targets. The purpose of the impact-oriented deep operations in the region is to clear the region of terrorists, to bring a radical solution to the refugee problem in the safe zone, and to contribute to the re-establishment of stability in the country by observing the territorial integrity of Syria. By the way, I would like to bring an important issue before you.

Claw Series Operations:

It is known that doubts about the combat effectiveness of the TAF have arisen due to the competent personnel dismissed after the coup attempt of 15 July 2016. However, with the operations carried out in Syria, Libya and Iraq, it is seen that this hesitation has completely disappeared. Along with all the operations carried out, Operation Claw-Eagle and Claw-Lock gives positive signs in terms of personnel adequacy of the TAF. When all the operations carried out are evaluated in its entirety, first of all, the personnel involved in combat and support missions were able to generate synergy in different combat functions and the operation could be terminated in a short time. (2)

What needs to be asked now is the stance of the RF against the possibility of the Turkish Armed Forces to carry out the "Intensive Intelligence-Focused Proactive Operation" in Syria, which is essential. To put it more accurately, will the RF support a possible operation by Turkey or will it be a hindrance as before? First of all, it should be said that among the information received from the area where the RF gave the green light to the unfinished operations of the Turkish Armed Forces in Syria, not only the Syrian airspace, but even the RF-controlled areas were quietly transferred to Turkey without the need for a new operation. The RF-controlled areas have been established in such dominant places that they are almost at the level of a resistance point rather than an observation point.

Another distorted slander expression that is tried to be uttered is the statement that "Moscow may have given the green light to the operation of Syria, provided that it can make Ankara say no to the entry of Sweden and Finland into NATO." This alleged probability is at the level of slander. What is tried to be hidden behind this slander and slander is that the USA occupies a large part of the east of the Euphrates by increasing its forces in the region.

Lavrov's Statements:

The following statements in the interview given by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to the Arabic channel of the Russian broadcaster Russia Today (RT) and the fact that Turkey cannot remain indifferent to the structure that unites Iraqi and Syrian Kurds clearly confirms this argument:

“US soldiers support partition and use the sentiments of some of the Iraqi Kurds in the region. In this way, they cause problems in the structure that unites Iraqi and Syrian Kurds. Of course, Turkey cannot remain indifferent to these. We want these problems to be resolved within the framework of respect for Syria's independence and territorial integrity.” (3)

Lavrov points out the US activities in northern Syria against Russia's efforts to ensure the territorial integrity of Syria, emphasizing the importance of the issue in detail with the following words:

“There are still army units from countries that no one has invited there. US troops still occupy most of the east bank of the Euphrates. They are trying to establish a so-called state there, support partition and use the feelings of some of the Iraqi Kurds in the region. In this way, they cause problems in the structure that unites Iraqi and Syrian Kurds. Of course, Turkey cannot remain indifferent to these. We want these problems to be resolved within the framework of respect for Syria's independence and territorial integrity. We also meet with the Kurds. We invite them to take a closer look at how the United States has made a promise or not. Forget international legitimacy, and on pragmatic grounds it is best to engage in serious dialogue with Damascus and make an agreement to regulate life in a united state.” He emphasizes the importance of the culture of living together rather than an autonomous administration in the region.

Lavrov clearly states as follows:

“We are in Syria at the request of the country's president and legitimate government. We are there in accordance with the United Nations' conventions and we are implementing the UN Security Council resolution 2254. We will continue to do so and support the efforts of the Syrian government to take back all Syrian territory.” (3)

Euphrates Shield Unfinished:

As a matter of fact, Turkey's claim on territorial integrity coincides with RF's claim on territorial integrity, with only one difference. The fear that the Bashar Regime has made and spread with its paramilitary organizations and especially with the “Shabiha” organization, preventing the return of refugees to Syria, needs to be removed. However, Bashar Assad took the road to Tehran to eliminate the weakness that may occur after the withdrawal of the RF from the region. Iranian leader Ali Khamenei, who met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who made a surprise visit to Tehran three years later, confirms the thesis that the weakness of the force after the withdrawal of RF from the region is filled with Hashd al-Shaabi and / or Hezbollah organizations. Israel, on the other hand, has directly turned to eliminating the Iranian presence in Syria. It is thought that President Erdogan's talks with Israeli President Herzog are aimed at eliminating this possibility in Syria. It is seen that all of Israel's operations are based on Iranian or pro-Iranian forces in Syria.

Manbij is one of the regions that Turkey could not safely enter into the Region due to the early interruption of the Euphrates Shield operation. In Manbij, first the Americans and then the Russians promised to withdraw the YPG, but the "Manbij Defense Council" organized by the YPG is located in the city, while the Syrian regime army is stationed in the countryside. With the agreement reached in Sochi, the YPG was withdrawn 32 kilometers (20 miles) below the border, while the Syrian regime army was deployed to the border lines. Turkey's operation was interrupted in 2019, and the next developments in the east of the Euphrates naturally dictate a different situation than before 2019. Turkey has to ensure uninterruptedness in the safe zone in the context of the resettlement of asylum seekers in the region. In other words, the Ayn-ül Arab region, which cuts the connection between the Euphrates Shield and the Peace Spring, must be cleaned. In other words, Manbij on the west side of the Euphrates should be besieged from the east as well, and Ayn Isa and Tel Temir should be cleared by following the M-4 road.

Conclusion:

Long story short, it seems that today's psychological climate or conjuncture allows the operation to be carried out without delay. The point that should be emphasized here is that since the bargaining in NATO, in other words, the membership of Finland and Sweden to NATO is dependent on the condition of taking a clear stance against PeKaKa and its Syrian extension YPG, it is thought that the US administration will not prevent a new operation in Syria. However, it should not be forgotten that the reflection of the operation in 2019 to the Congress and the public had turned Trump 180 degrees. In short, the operation of the Turkish Armed Forces in Syria is both necessary and essential, and it must be done in this conjuncture, dear readers.

Footnotes:

(1) BBC News Türkçe, “YPG: Yerel bir örgütten, NATO ülkelerinin desteklediği bir güce nasıl dönüştü?” 25 Ekim 2019; https://www.bbc.com/turkce/haberler-dunya-50180068/Erişim Tarihi 29.05.2022/

(2) Murat Aslan, 5 Soru: Pençe-Kartal Harekatı | İstihbarat Odaklı Derin Harekat, 15 Haziran 2020; https://www.setav.org/5-soru-pence-kartal-harekati-istihbarat-odakli-derin-harekat/Erişim Tarihi 28.05.2022/