Syrian Forces to Back Kurds Against Turkey

by Dramelin 5:30 AM 0 comments

Turkish foreign minister says "no one can stop" the army Syrian government-backed forces are set to enter the border town of Afrin in the coming hours to support Kurdish fighters battling Turkish troops, Syria’s state-run media reported on Monday, raising the risk of dragging Turkey deeper into the seven-year war.
The move will aim to “support our people against the Turkish regime’s aggression,” according to a brief report carried by the official SANA news agency.
The deployment will be of “popular” forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad, Sky News Arabia reported.
Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said the plan will not derail the offensive.
Turkey launched a cross-border operation on January 20 in the town of Afrin to expel the Kurdish YPG group from the border area.
The government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan views the YPG as an extension of separatist Kurdish militia PKK, which Ankara classifies as a terrorist organization.
Turkey’s Response The lira weakened as much 0.
4 percent against the U.
dollar in Istanbul on Monday.
The Borsa Istanbul 100 Index for stocks reversed gains of as much as 0.
9 percent to trade 0.
Cavusoglu, speaking in a televised news conference in Jordan, said Turkey would welcome the Syrian deployment if the purpose were to clear the Kurds out of Afrin.
“If it enters to protect the YPG, no one can stop the Turkish army,” he said.
He said the policy applies to both Afrin and Manbij, another town in northern Syria under the control of the YPG.
The YPG is part of the U.
-backed Syrian Democratic Forces that has played a critical role in defeating Islamic State in several parts of Syria.
Turkey’s military incursion into Syria has further strained ties with fellow NATO member the U.
, with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson saying last week that the relationship with Turkey had reached a “critical point.
” Turkey maintains its offensive was solely aimed at eliminating Kurdish YPG militants and that its troops would withdraw once the operation achieves its goals.
— With assistance by Firat Kozok.