After Iraq, Turkey is preparing for a military operation in Syria that "starts at any moment"

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[size=52]After Iraq, Turkey is preparing for a military operation in Syria that "starts at any moment"[/size]

[size=45]Turkish military sources said that Ankara decided to announce its intention to launch a military operation in northern Syria after Russia removed a large number of its forces from Syria due to the Ukrainian war.[/size]
[size=45]And the British “Middle East Eye” website, in a report from Istanbul, quoted Turkish military sources as saying: The timing of the Turkish decision announced a few days ago was also the result of the Turkish military operation against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party in Iraq, where the Turks are betting on ending the infiltration of the party’s militants from During the closure of the last land corridor between Iraq and Turkey.[/size]
[size=45]A Turkish military source said that the recent activities of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in transferring its members and ammunition from Syria to Iraq are what prompted Turkey to move, explaining that the two military operations, that is, in Iraq and Syria, "must continue simultaneously."[/size]
[size=45]The Turkish source added that the Turkish decision is not only related to "Russia's involvement in Ukraine. There are fears and intelligence information about the activities of the Kurdistan Workers' Party in Syria."[/size]
[size=45]The report pointed out that it will be Turkey's fourth military operation in northern Syria since 2016, and it will take place with a declared goal of fighting ISIS and the Syrian Kurdish groups allied with the PKK, in addition to resettling displaced Syrians.[/size]
[size=45]The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, which includes the People's Protection Units, are still controlling large lands in northeastern Syria, where Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said earlier that the Turkish military operation would target two main areas west of the Euphrates River, which are Manbij and Tal Rifaat, adding that he seeks to establish a security zone 30 kilometers deep along the southern border of Turkey.[/size]
[size=45]A Turkish military source said that the "YPG" carried out more than 100 attacks on the militias loyal to Ankara and the bases of the Turkish forces, using missiles, anti-armor missiles and artillery, noting that the goal of the Turkish takeover of the Manbij air base, which was controlled by the People's Protection Units with the support of Russian forces In the year 2016.[/size]
[size=45]The source also pointed out that Tal Rifaat contains 60% of the area’s potable water, which is “only what makes it a strategic target,” considering that it will encourage the displaced Arabs to return and promote agriculture.[/size]
[size=45]The report quoted Turkish military sources as saying that the Russian forces, which had the second largest presence in Tal Rifaat, largely left the area.[/size]
[size=45]A Turkish source said that Ankara does not expect the Syrian government forces to attempt to confront any Turkish attack, adding that the Turkish army and the militias of the so-called “Syrian National Army” backed by the Turks, “have already completed their preparations and may start the operation from one moment to another.”[/size]
[size=45]He added that Russia is having difficulty "resupplying its forces in Tal Rifaat, and it has abandoned some of its bases near Aleppo to the Iranians."[/size]
[size=45]The report quoted Turkish officials as saying that Iran would be more concerned than the Russians about any Turkish move in Tal Rifaat, because militias allied with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard are actively participating in the Syrian government's efforts to protect northern Aleppo. "The Iranians do not want the Syrian opposition forces to have a presence near Aleppo," a Turkish official said.[/size]
[size=45]While the Turkish sources indicated that the Turkish army is still assessing the situation with regard to the city of Kobani and developing the necessary plans, waiting for the political leadership to determine what is necessary, they added that the plans for operations towards Manbij and Tal Rifaat have been completed and may start at any time.[/size]
[size=45]The report added that Manbij and Tal Rifaat may receive thousands of displaced Syrians currently residing in Turkey, which is facing economic difficulties, as there are 3.7 million Syrians residing on Turkish soil, as popular feelings of hostility against them are increasing and the leaders of the Turkish opposition threaten to expel them from Turkey.[/size]
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