Erdogan: Syrian Rebels Supported by Ankara Have Taken Control of Jarablus from ISIS

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the President of Turkey, stated that Syrian rebels supported by Ankara have taken the city of Jarablus in Syria from the control of the Islamic State (ISIS). On Wednesday, September 3, during a joint press conference with Joe Biden, the Vice President of the United States, he said, "Some challenge us and say that for Turkish forces, this or that event is happening in Syria. No. We want to tell them that you should think about what will happen to yourselves." These remarks are likely a response to the position of Saleh Muslim, the leader of the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party. Concurrently with the announcement of the entry of Turkish-backed rebels and special forces into Jarablus, Saleh Muslim tweeted: "Turkey has entered the Syrian quagmire. It will be defeated like ISIS." Erdogan reiterated his opposition to any role for Bashar al-Assad, the President of Syria, in the future of the country, stating that Syria will never achieve democracy under his leadership. Turkish army forces began artillery and air attacks on ISIS positions in Jarablus on Wednesday morning. Turkish officials claim these attacks are coordinated and agreed upon with the United States. In addition to ISIS, Turkish artillery has targeted Kurdish positions in the northern city of Manbij, which was recently cleared of ISIS by Kurdish forces and their Arab allies with U.S. support. However, the entry of Turkish forces into Syrian territory has provoked protests from the Kurdish population. Aldar Khalil, a leader of Syrian Kurdistan, told Radio Farda, "The Turkish government wanted to weaken the Syrian Kurds by supporting ISIS and the al-Nusra Front. But when Manbij was liberated and ISIS was defeated, they realized that ISIS could not fulfill such a request. Therefore, they had to intervene directly in the situation themselves. In this context, the Turkish government updated its relations with the Assad government, Russia, and some Kurdish forces, ultimately occupying Jarablus." Turkish officials deny allegations of cooperating with ISIS while accusing the Kurdish People's Protection Units of aligning with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The Turkish Prime Minister has emphasized the necessity of maintaining the "territorial integrity of Syria" and stated that Ankara will not allow a Kurdish government to form in northern Syria. In response to these remarks and Turkey's presence in Syrian territory, Aldar Khalil stated, "Intervention in Jarablus means occupying part of Syrian territory because the Turkish army and government are foreign forces in Syria. They are not part of the Syrian revolution. Therefore, they have no right to intervene in Syrian affairs. This is against international norms. The Turkish government aims to target the self-management of Syrian Kurds." When asked how they would respond if Turkey continued its attacks on Kurdish positions, he said, "We will have to defend ourselves." On the other hand, Joe Biden, the U.S. Vice President, spoke with Turkish officials about the necessity for Kurdish forces to withdraw from west of the Euphrates River, emphasizing that otherwise the Kurds would lose U.S. support. In response to Biden's remarks, Aldar Khalil stated, "The U.S. has not officially made such a request from us so far. However, there is a reality. Our forces may assist local forces in liberating other cities. But after liberating those areas, we will vacate the region and hand it over to the local forces. For example, in Manbij, our forces played a role in liberating the city. But after the region was liberated, we handed the city over to the Manbij Military Council, which is formed by the locals of Manbij." In this context, Redur Khalil, a spokesperson for the People's Protection Units, also rejected the withdrawal of Kurdish forces from west of the Euphrates River, stating, "No force can tell us to withdraw from our own land. We are part of the Syrian Democratic Forces in the west of the Euphrates. We do not act according to the will and desire of Turkey or any other force."