Iranian political expert on Turkey called Ankara’s deployment of forces to Syria as the beginning of a full war between Kurds and Turkish forces.
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Ali Ghaem Maghami, Iranian political expert on Turkey affairs, has studied into depth of Turkish constitution, Supreme Council of National Security, Turkish intelligent service and its army. He is a researcher, commentator and translator of books on the Anatolian country.
Ali Ghaem Maghami in an interview with Taqrib News Agency (TNA), related on the latest diplomatic and field situation in ‘Olive Branch’ Operation saying that Erdogan had made long time investments on Free Syrian Army (FSA) in order to benefit it when urgent.
He said the US and Turkey had jointly masterminded FSA armed and trained by American forces since the beginning of Syria war though the project failed due to the fact that some members of FSA joined Qaeda and Daesh terrorist group.
“Eventually Turkey began commanding the FSA before recruiting 20’000-strong Turkmen groups besides Free Syrian Army” said the political expert.
He said,” Turkey, in order to deny its presence as an occupying country, involved Free Syrian Army, dubbed as Jaish-al Watani (country’s army), in Syria as a complement to its army in Syria; hence Peshmerga should be counted as Free Syrian Army in order to restore calm in Afrin” and added,” In this line, Ankara is struggling to gain full control of Afrin and other Syrian regions including Idlib and Manbij in order to settle Syrian refugees there.”
He said Erdogan’s announcement on entrance of Turkish army into Afrin is due to the fact that its forces were in a 20-kilometer distance from the city but since the beginning of “Olive Branch” Operation, two weeks ago, an estimated number of 980 PKK members and People’s Protection Units have been killed by Turkish forces which has kept Kurds in a stance of revenge from Turkish forces.
“As of data, 450’000 to 500’000 people reside in Afrin, 60% of which include Kurds and the remaining composed of Turkmen and other ethnicities. In this regard, we will witness full scale urban conflict war between Turks and Kurds”
“On the other hand, opposition of some parties, particularly Republican People’s Party led by Kemal Kilicdaroglu has led Erdogan’s full command over all parties” he noted and added,” Because Turkish President announced any opposing party in the country will be counted as a supporter of terrorists, a remark which has sparked massive protests across the country leading towards a critical situation for Ankara.”
Ali Ghaem Maghami stressed a much likely clash between Turkish and Syrian armies saying,” Turkey intends to move from Afrin to southern parts, a move which will certainly face its army with Syrian forces.”
He said,” The other issue is US warning for Turkey as Ankara intends to attack Manbij after Afrin, an invasion for which Erdogan’s cabinet will pay a heavy toll.”
According to the political commentator, Americans had scheduled to transmit People’s Protection Unit from west to eastern Euphrates bank, a plan which did not promote as so sparking the Turkey’s ire.
Still another point is the fate of Afrin Kurds. Turkish forces had announced they will not clash with Kurdish people in a mere pursuit of an estimated number of 8-12 thousand Kurdish armed fighters; hence, Manbij is challenged by an impending war and once air strikes open Turkish operation are certain to receive a war crime label.
