Turkey announced on Tuesday, December 25, that it is cooperating with the United States for the withdrawal of American forces from Syria, but remains 'determined' to push back U.S.-allied Kurdish forces from northeastern Syria. Mevlut Cavusoglu, Turkey's foreign minister, told reporters that 'if Turkey says it will enter [Syria], it will do so.' Turkey has been threatening for weeks to launch a new operation against Kurdish forces that have fought alongside U.S. troops against the group known as the 'Islamic State.' Ankara considers the Syrian Kurdish forces to be 'terrorists' and claims they are linked to the PKK militants inside Turkey. Donald Trump, the President of the United States, announced last week after a phone call with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, that American forces would be leaving Syria. The Turkish foreign minister also stated that Ankara and Washington have agreed on a complete roadmap regarding the Syrian town of 'Manbij' until the withdrawal of American forces. According to an agreement made this summer, Kurdish forces were supposed to leave Manbij, located in the west of the Euphrates River, but delays in this regard have angered Turkey. Cavusoglu reiterated on Tuesday that the United States must keep its promises. He then claimed that Turkey has the capability to neutralize the 'Islamic State' or ISIS. The Turkish foreign minister also criticized France, which has stated it will remain in Syria despite the U.S. decision. Cavusoglu warned that it is not in France's interest to stay in Syria to support the People's Protection Units (YPG). The future of the international coalition against ISIS, which includes Turkey, the U.S., and France, is uncertain. Trump has stated that the only reason for the U.S. military presence in Syria was ISIS, and now that ISIS has been defeated, there is no need to continue the presence in Syria. However, this decision has faced opposition in Washington to the extent that Brett McGurk, the U.S. representative in the global coalition against ISIS, resigned from his position.
Cavusoglu: Turkey is 'determined' to push back Syrian Kurdish forces
Turkey is determined to push back Kurdish forces in Syria, despite U.S. plans to withdraw its troops. Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglu emphasized Turkey's commitment to its military operations against the Kurdish groups, which it considers terrorists. This situation highlights the complexities of U.S.-Turkey relations and the future of the fight against ISIS.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Turkey has announced its determination to push back Kurdish forces in northeastern Syria, even as the U.S. plans to withdraw its troops. Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglu emphasized that Turkey is ready to take military action if necessary.
- Turkey views the Kurdish forces as terrorists linked to the PKK, a designated terrorist organization.
- The U.S. has agreed on a roadmap regarding the Syrian town of Manbij, which is crucial for Turkey's security concerns.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The conflict in Syria has involved various actors, including the U.S., Turkey, and Kurdish forces, each with differing objectives. The Kurdish forces have been key allies in the fight against ISIS, complicating U.S.-Turkey relations.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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