The forces are composed of militia fighters, Turkish commandos and numerous artillery units. As one of the officials told the Wall Street Journal, the forces are concentrated near the Kurdish town of Kobani Syrialocated near the border with Turkey. – Turkish cross-border operation may be possible inevitable – he said.
In the official's opinion, gathering forces reminiscent of Turkish military movements prior to the 2019 invasion of northeastern Syria. – We are focusing on this situation and we insist on restraint – pointed out another of the officials.
According to “WSJ”, Ilham Ahmed, a representative of the Kurdish administration in Syria, told Donald Trump that operation “is likely” and asked to put pressure on Recep Tayyip Erdogan not to attack Syria.
“Turkey's goal is establishing control over our landforcing us to cooperate with them as the rulers of our territory. If Türkiye invades, the consequences will be disastrous,” wrote Ilham Ahmed in a letter to the US president-elect.
Last Thursday, December 12, head of US diplomacy Antony Blinken met with President Erdogan in Ankarathe talks concerned the situation in Syria.
Turkish President: We will take preventive measures in Syria
Turkey's Anadolu Agency reported that Erdogan allegedly told Blinken that Türkiye “will take preventive measures in Syria against terrorist organizations”, incl Kurdish. He was to say that he would not allow the Kurds to “take advantage” of the situation after the fall of the Assad regime.
“The overthrow of the Syrian leader by rebel groups led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, previously affiliated with al-Qaeda, led to an uncertain future for the country and started a renewed fight between the Syrian Kurds and Turkish-backed rebel groups,” emphasizes “WSJ.”
On Monday Donald Trump in a conversation with journalists he said that it is Türkiye that is behind the rebels. – President Erdogan is a very smart guy. They wanted Syria for thousands of years and he got it – he said. – These people who entered there are controlled by Turkey and that is fine, he added.
Trump said he “doesn't know what will happen to Syria, but this Türkiye will hold the keys to it“.
Source: “Wall Street Journal”