Turkey prepares for military operation in Northern Syria: WSJ

U.S. officials told the Wall Street Journal that Turkey has been engaging in military activity in northern Syria, similar to the lead-up to the 2019 Peace Spring Operation.

Tuesday December 17 2024 11:38 pm

Duvar English

The U.S.-based Wall Street Journal reported that Turkey and the Syrian National Army (SNA), which it backs, have been preparing for a military operation in Syria.

Citing U.S. officials, the report claimed that a cross-border operation targeting the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) could begin "soon." It was also noted that SNA forces, along with Turkish troops, have been deployed along the border.

Turkey deems SDF a direct branch of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) while the U.S. has been backing Kurdish militants in the region against the threat of the Islamic State (ISIS).

‘Similar scenes seen in 2019’

U.S. officials claimed that, in addition to SNA forces, uniformed commandos and artillery units have been concentrating near the Kobani border. The report pointed out that similar military movements were observed before Turkey’s 2019 Peace Spring Operation.

One U.S. official was quoted saying, “We are focused on it and pressing for restraint.”

The report also stated that Ilham Ahmed, Co-Chair of the North and East Syria Foreign Relations Department, wrote a letter to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.

According to WSJ, Ahmed urged Trump to pressure Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to refrain from sending troops across the border.

On Oct. 9, 2019, Turkey launched Operation Peace Spring to clear its border of the People’s Protection Units (YPG), the main component of the SDF. Along with its domestic allies, which have recently played a significant role in efforts to oust Bashar al-Assad, Turkey controls an 8,835-square-kilometer area in northern Syria.