Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hints at a possible ground offensive in northern Syria and Iraq. This comes after the Turkish air force attacked targets outside Turkey that Ankara says are sites of Kurdish groups. Turkey accuses the Kurds of being responsible for the recent bomb attack in central Istanbul.
Speaking to reporters, Erdogan said Turkey’s current military campaign in northern Syria and northern Iraq “is not limited to an air operation” and could include ground forces. “The competent authorities, our Ministry of Defense and our Chief of Staff will jointly decide on the level of force to be used by our ground forces. We consult and then take our steps accordingly.’
On Sunday, Turkey launched the operation Claw sword in response to the Istiklal Avenue bombing in Istanbul that killed six and injured 81. Ankara blamed the Kurdistan Workers Group (PKK) and affiliated Syrian Kurdish groups for the attack, although the Kurds deny any involvement. According to the Turkish Defense Ministry, 184 Kurdish fighters have been killed so far and 89 targets have been destroyed, including shelters, bunkers, caves and tunnels.
De-escalation
Rockets fired from Syrian territory killed two people on Monday as shells struck the Turkish border district of Karkamis, Turkey’s state-run Anadolu News Agency reports. The United States, which has relied heavily on Kurdish militias to defeat IS in Syria, has called for a de-escalation. “The United States extends its sincere condolences on the loss of civilian life in Syria and Turkey,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement.
To call to action
Russia has also called on Turkey to refrain from using “excessive” military force. According to Russian special envoy Alexander Lavrentyev, Al Jazeera reports that Turkey has not given Moscow notice of its raids on neighboring countries. Lavrentyev said he hoped to “convince our Turkish colleagues to refrain from using excessive force on Syrian territory”.
Erdogan has been threatening another large-scale military operation against PKK-affiliated forces in northern Syria for months, but Russia, Iran and many Western countries have warned of the plans. It would not be the first time; Turkey has already used that ax and conquered a large part of Syrian territory.
Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
