Erdogan Threatens New Attacks Against Kurdish Forces in Syria and Iraq

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the President of Turkey, warned that his country would launch new attacks against Kurdish militia groups in Syria and Iraq and called on the United States to stop supporting such groups. In statements released on Sunday, April 29, Erdogan emphasized, "We are compelled to continue our attacks [against Kurdish militants]." He added, "We do not specify a time and date for our actions, but they will know that the Turkish army will come." Erdogan, who has called for an end to U.S. support for Kurdish groups, also noted that he would discuss his country's position during his upcoming meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump next month. The U.S. has deployed troops and armored vehicles around several Syrian cities on Friday and Saturday to cut off attacks between Kurdish groups and Turkish forces, with Kurdish officials describing the deployment as a buffer between them and Turkish forces. Earlier reports indicated that around 200 U.S. Marines entered the city of Manbij in northern Syria, located 50 kilometers from the Turkish border, following clashes between Syrian Kurds and Turkish military forces earlier this year. The U.S. also supports Kurdish forces in the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq and Syria, specifically collaborating with the Syrian Democratic Forces, which are primarily composed of Kurdish fighters known as the People's Protection Units (YPG), although some Arab fighters are also part of the group. Turkey considers the YPG a terrorist group linked to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and has conducted attacks against their positions in Syria. In an airstrike last week, Turkey targeted YPG positions, resulting in 20 deaths, including not only Kurdish fighters but also media activists, according to the Associated Press. This attack drew deep criticism and concern from the U.S. In this context, Syrian sources reported that U.S. forces have been deployed to the Turkey-Syria border, and the U.S. criticized Turkey's airstrike against Kurdish forces in Iraq and Syria.