Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has raised the possibility of a ground-based anti-terrorist operation in Syria against the Kurdish YPG and PKK forces following escalation and retaliatory strikes along the Syrian border in recent days. He is quoted by Reuters.
Speaking to MPs in parliament, Erdogan said that Turkey has the right to independently resolve problems in northern Syria. Other agencies claim that the Turkish leader will launch a ground operation at the right time, and air strikes are just the beginning.
“Turkey will launch an anti-terrorist operation on the ground at the right time. Our air, artillery and UAV operations are just the beginning. Our determination to close all our southern borders from Hatay to Hakkari from attacks is stronger than ever,” the correspondent of the Azerbaijani APA news agency quoted the Turkish leader as saying.
The Turkish Armed Forces continue the air operation "Claw-sword" against the PKK in northern Syria and Iraq. On November 20, Turkey launched strikes, claiming that the area was being used as a terrorist base for attacks on Turkey. The decision to start the operation was made after an explosion occurred on the pedestrian street of Istiklal in the center of Istanbul on November 13, which killed 6 people and injured 81. Turkey blamed the PKK for what happened, the Turkish police reported that the terrorist attack was carried out by a Syrian citizen born in 1999, who admitted ties to the PKK. Erdogan also connects the operation with Russia's refusal to fulfill promises to withdraw Kurdish formations from the border of the republic.
Arabist Marianna Belenkaya told The Insider that it is unprofitable for Russia to quarrel with Turkey, because it will cause her a lot of problems with Syria. Also, Moscow does not need any change in the status quo in Syria, but it is important that everything remains as it is and does not get worse.