Erdogan threatens to use military force against Kurdish militias in Syria

Fighting in northern Syria

Erdogan threatens to use military force against Kurdish militias in Syria

The Turkish military has already intervened several times in neighboring Syria. In view of the fierce fighting in the north, Erdogan is now making another threat.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has indirectly threatened a new military operation against the Kurdish militia YPG in Syria. Terrorism will not be allowed in the region, said Erdogan, referring to the YPG, after a cabinet meeting in Ankara. Turkey has demonstrated many times that it is uncompromisingly prepared to ensure its survival – when the time comes, it can come one night, he added. Erdogan had already used this expression to threaten to intervene militarily in the neighboring country in the past.

Turkey has already carried out several military operations against the Kurdish militia YPG in northern Syria and is occupying border regions there with the support of rebels. Ankara sees the militia as an offshoot of the banned Kurdish Workers’ Party (PKK) – and therefore a terrorist organization.

Since the fall of long-term Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad at the beginning of December, pro-Turkish fighters have continued to advance into areas in northern Syria controlled by Kurdish militias. There is currently heavy fighting in the northern Syrian region of Manbij.