Turkey in pursuit of reviving proxy war in Idlib, Manbij
Silence of world bodies backtracks Syria to 7 years before
To continue the Olive Branch operation in Turkey will certainly lead to revival of a proxy war since Qaeda terrorists are in constant planning of an operation. On the other hand, though, the silence of Daesh can bring a new crisis.
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Hassan Hanizadeh, Iranian Middle East expert, detailed his views on the second phase of Olive Branch Operation in an interview with Taqrib News Agency (TNA) referring to deployment of nearly 2’000 American forces to Syrian soil without informing the central government in Damascus.
Based on the political expert the move aimed beginning the disintegration process of Syria and training 30’000 Democratic Kurdish forces in the country.
He said,” The move naturally came out to be a threat for Turkey and Ankara felt a Kurdish region was going to be born in Syria; hence, the Turks began negotiations with the US when Hulusi Akar, Turkey’s Chief of the General Staff, traveled to Brussels to discuss with the US authorities, a meeting which eventually led to two battalions of the country entering Syria.
He added,” Meanwhile Turkey began the revival of Free Syrian Army to defend its forces and stepping up its attacks on Kurds deploying nearly 25’000 armed forces entered the battle fields. In other words Turkey, besides attacking Kurdish positions in Afrin, pursued revival of a proxy war against the Kurds in war-torn Syria, because Free Syrian Army has already entered Manbij to start operation against Syrian Kurds.
Detailing the objectives of Turkey in attacking Afrin, Hassan Hanizadeh said,” What is happening at present is the incursion of Turkish army in Afrin and Ain al-Arab so that it can announce a buffer zone and prevent formation of an autonomous Kurdish region. This project is a plan followed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan since long. Ankara found Idlib a potential threat since 1939 and due to this reason, involvement of several forces and parties has seriously challenged the case.
He referred to the mission of Free Syrian Army in operation ‘Olive Branch’ saying,” The main mission for Free Syrian Army in this operation is confrontation with Kurds” and added,” A review of the beginning days of Syria war would recall appalling scenes of beheading the civilians and Syrian army members by Free Syrian Army; therefore, Syria case has in fact back tracked to 6.5 years ago since presence of the Free Syrian Army will lead to a catastrophe.”
The political expert warned that simultaneous presence of Syrian army and terrorists in northeastern Idlib can lead to a new phase of clashes and said,” We are witness that Syrian army is in a conflict with Qaeda a little distance from the position where Kurdish-backed terrorists are confronting the Kurds; hence, any conflict between the sides is possible contrary to the fact that Free Syrian Army has announced it is not in pursuit of clashes with Damascus.
He noted that Turkey is incapable of confronting Syria in multiple positions and stressed,” Ankara cannot lead its army in Syria at the same time supporting Free Syrian Army.
Therefore, the only solution for the present situation in Syria is withdrawal of the Turkish army to out of the Syrian borders meanwhile evacuating the region from Kurdish forces. Free Syrian Army should also put an end to armed conflicts otherwise past 7 years of crisis will be revived.
He concluded,” Certainly Ankara and Erdogan will not withdraw before receiving a guarantee on withdrawal of the Kurds from Syria because they stress the weakening of their national security by the Kurds.”
