Turkey says operations along southern border essential for security

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Turkey said on Thursday that operations conducted along its southern border are essential to protecting the country from terrorism and do not violate the sovereignty of its neighbors, likely setting the stage to launch a fresh offensive against Kurdish fighters in northern Syria.

Turkey’s National Security Council (MKG) stated that “under no circumstances the operations currently conducted and to be done to clean our southern borders from the treat of terror” breach the sovereignty of its neighbors, in a session attended by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

“It is underlined that these operations will contribute seriously to the peace and safety of our neighbors,” the statement continued.

The statement comes as Ankara continues to oppose Sweden’s bid to enter NATO, accusing Stockholm of supporting Kurdish fighters in northeastern Syria (Rojava). Consensus by all NATO members is required for a new country to join and Erdogan is expected to use his approval as leverage to gain concessions from the West, including guarantees that they will not oppose a fresh offensive. 

Erdogan announced on Monday that his country is making preparations to launch a fresh military operation in Syria, aiming to expand its “safe zone” to a depth of 30 kilometers. The operation is likely to target Kurdish fighters of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

Turkey claims that the People’s Protection Units (YPG), backbone of the SDF, is the Syrian offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) – an armed group fighting for the increased rights of Kurds in Turkey and designated a terrorist organization by Ankara. 

Previously, Turkish forces and their allied Syrian militias have launched two separate assaults on Kurdish forces in Syria. In 2019, they launched an invasion of the border towns of Sari Kani (Ras al-Ain) and Gire Spi (Tal Abyad) on behalf of Operation Peace Spring, a year after they seized the city of Afrin in Operation Olive Branch from the YPG.  

The conflicts have forced hundreds of thousands of people, mostly Kurds, to flee their homes, and most have not returned. 

In March, Turkey launched a new phase in a series of operations targeting PKK positions beyond its border with the Kurdistan Region. The operation, dubbed Claw-Lock, is an air and ground assault that heavily focuses on mountainous border areas where the armed group maintains a presence.

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said the operation, once completed successfully, will ensure the PKK’s complete inability to traverse its border.

Baghdad and Erbil have previously criticized Ankara for violating Iraqi sovereignty, but it continues to establish increasing numbers of bases and outposts in the mountains of Erbil and Duhok provinces.