Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin not only about the grain deal, but also about the Turkish attacks in Syria. He urged the Kremlin to honor a 2019 deal. It states that the Kurdish militia YPG is withdrawing from parts of the border area with Turkey.
The Turkish government under Erdogan is currently carrying out airstrikes against the Kurdish militia YPG in northern Syria, which it describes as “terrorists”. Erdogan had also repeatedly threatened a ground offensive. The reason was the attack in the pedestrian zone of Istanbul on November 13. The Turkish president blames the outlawed Kurdish Workers’ Party PKK and the Syrian-Kurdish group YPG. However, both deny the allegations.
The airstrikes began on November 20 and have also targeted the PKK and related groups in northern Iraq. Countless people were killed, including Kurdish forces, but also Syrian government soldiers and civilians. The actual conflict has been simmering for quite some time. Since 2016, the Turkish army has crossed the Syrian border in three major ground offensives to push back Kurdish forces. Ankara made major territorial gains. According to media reports, construction of houses has started there to house Syrian refugees who are currently still in Turkey.
US and Russia as allies of the Kurds
The YPG is part of the Syrian Democratic Forces and works with the US military against the terrorist militia Islamic State (IS). Only on Sunday did the US military report the deaths of two senior IS fighters, who were said to have died in eastern Syria. Another ally, notably of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, is the Russian government. Some international voices believe the Kremlin can mediate between Syria and Turkey.
Erdogan could also hope for that. In his phone conversation with Putin, he recalled a 2019 agreement under which the YPG would withdraw from parts of the border area with Turkey. Turkey supports the Syrian National Army (SNA), which has been accused of many atrocities. Many parties play a role in the conflict. The Syrian government has condemned the previous attacks as a violation of their country’s sovereignty.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
