Increased Likelihood of Conflict Between Turkish Forces and Syrian Kurdish Militias

The commander of the Syrian Kurdish militias, which have received support from the coalition during battles against ISIS, told Reuters that Turkey's recent military actions in northern Syria "mean a declaration of war." He warned that this group "will not remain indifferent to potential violence." These are the latest statements from the leadership of the "People's Protection Units," the core of the "Syrian Democratic Forces," regarding the possibility of conflict with Turkey. Sipan Hemo, the commander of the YPG, stated on July 9 in an interview with the newspaper "Yeni Özgür Politika" that this group does not accept Turkey's presence from Azaz to Jarabulus and that the "ultimate goal is the liberation" of these areas. Now, the commander of the Kurdish militias in northern Syria says that the reinforcement and positioning of Turkish army forces in Kurdish-controlled areas in northwestern Syria will likely lead to conflict in the coming days. The Turkish Deputy Prime Minister has stated that the country has "not declared war," but at the same time, its military forces will respond to any "hostile" actions by the YPG. Sipan Hemo accused Turkey of preparing for "a large military campaign in Aleppo and the Afrin region" - districts in Syria's Aleppo, located in northwestern Syria. Turkey has always expressed dissatisfaction with the increasing influence of Kurdish militias in northern Syria, near its borders. Ankara considers the YPG to be a branch of the PKK and a "terrorist" group, which is not accepted by the United States, which supports the Kurdish militias as part of the "Syrian Democratic Forces." The Syrian Democratic Forces are currently engaged in battle with ISIS in the group's main center in Syria, the city of Raqqa. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated on Wednesday to France 24 that "if we are targeted by any threat, our army, with the help of the 'Free Syrian Army' on the ground, will carry out operations." Last year, Turkish army forces, with the support of several groups affiliated with the "Free Syrian Army," entered Syrian territory and expelled members of the so-called Islamic State from border areas around Jarabulus. However, clashes with ISIS and simultaneously with Kurdish militias continued for some time afterward. Early in July, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that Turkey had begun to reinforce and send a number of military forces, armored vehicles, and weapons to the area between Azaz and Jarabulus. Azaz is located in northwestern Syria, near Aleppo and the border town of Kilis in Turkey. Jarabulus is near the Euphrates River close to the border town of Karkamış.