Davutoğlu: New Conditions Have Emerged in Syria and Iraq

The Prime Minister of Turkey announced that his country does not intend to send ground troops to Syria, but at the same time stated that the attacks Turkey has begun against the group known as the 'Islamic State' (formerly ISIS) and Kurdish militants will 'change the regional equations' and emphasized that 'new conditions have emerged.' Turkish newspaper Hürriyet reported on Monday, July 27, that Ahmet Davutoğlu made this statement during an interview with the editor-in-chief of the newspaper. In this interview, the Prime Minister of Turkey added, 'Although the basic pattern of work has not changed, we ask everyone to correctly study and assess the new conditions that have arisen as a result of our operations in Syria and Iraq and to revise their operations according to these new conditions.' Mr. Davutoğlu also announced that Turkey will not send infantry to Syria to confront the fighters of the group known as the 'Islamic State' (formerly ISIS) in this neighboring country. Turkey announced this decision a few days after it began its airstrikes against the positions of the 'Islamic State' in Syria. Mr. Davutoğlu stated regarding the commencement of the Turkish military operations against ISIS that 'we do not want to see this group at our borders.' Since last weekend, coinciding with the start of airstrikes against the positions of the 'Islamic State' in Syria, Turkey has also launched a new campaign against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and bombed the party's bases in northern Iraq. Following a deadly suicide attack last Monday in the cultural center of the city of 'Suruç' near the Turkish-Syrian border, which left 36 dead and dozens injured and for which ISIS claimed responsibility, Turkey has become restless and has initiated military movements in Iraq and Syria. After the PKK took responsibility for several attacks on Turkish military personnel in the country in protest against what it considers Turkey's 'tacit cooperation' with ISIS, Turkey conducted airstrikes on PKK positions in northern Iraq on Saturday, July 25. Turkish officials have denied any tacit cooperation with ISIS. On Sunday, July 26, Turkey targeted the positions of this party in the 'Qandil' mountain range and also in northern Iraq with artillery fire and its fighter jets. Turkey's military actions against the PKK effectively call into question the credibility of the ceasefire established two years ago between the parties. Turkey's dual attacks against ISIS in Syria and the PKK have received support from the United States. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan last week signaled to Barack Obama, the President of the United States, to allow American fighter jets to use the 'Incirlik' base to attack the positions of the 'Islamic State' in Syria. According to the French news agency, Turkey has agreed to the operation of American fighter jets from this base after months of negotiations between the U.S. and Turkey. Mr. Davutoğlu, without going into the details of his country's agreement with the U.S., stated that creating an air umbrella for the 'Free Syrian Army' and other 'moderate' elements fighting ISIS in Syria is important. The Prime Minister of Turkey said, 'If we do not send infantry to Syria, which we will not do, we must support certain elements that cooperate with us as ground forces (through the establishment of an air umbrella).' Meanwhile, the Prime Minister of Turkey stated that his country is 'ready to cooperate with Syrian Kurds, but on the condition that they do not pose a threat to Turkey; otherwise, Turkey will confront them just like the PKK.' Turkey's entry into these military actions has placed the regional situation into a new condition, and while many neighboring countries have not yet taken a clear stance on this, NATO is set to hold a meeting on this matter on Tuesday, July 28. These developments have also unsettled the internal situation in Turkey, and groups of Kurds in Istanbul and Kurdish areas have held a series of protests, which have turned violent in many places. The PKK has also deemed it their 'right' to target Turkish soldiers in retaliation for Turkey's military attacks. In recent days, Turkey's security apparatus has arrested dozens of individuals in various cities on charges of supporting or being affiliated with ISIS and the PKK.