Alwaght- Turkey is sending more special forces to help Ankara-backed militants in an operation aimed at controlling the northern Syrian city of al-Bab.
On Monday, The Turkish General Staff announced that an additional 500 Turkish Special Forces troops had been sent to reinforce Turkish and the so-called Free Syrian Army (FSA), in the push to seize al-Bab from ISIS Takfiri terrorist group.
Late August, Turkey started incursions into northern Syria to supposedly combat ISIS terrorist group as part of a US-led coalition.
Speaking a few days ago Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the Syrian city of Al-Bab would soon be under his army's control
Meanwhile Syria says many civilians were killed in massacres committed by the Turkish warplanes in al-Bab city northeast of Aleppo city. The sources added that the number of casualties is likely to rise due to continued rescue operations and the massive destruction caused by strikes.
Turkey targets Manbij after al-Bab
Erdogan has also said that Manbij is Turkey’s first priority as part of its so-called Euphrates Shield Operation. He has also claimed that ISIS's de facto capital in Syria, would follow.
Manbij presents a complex situation for the Turkish government as the city is controlled by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) which is backed by the US.
Ankara has long been protesting against American support of the SDF and the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG). According to Ankara the Syrian Kurdish units are terrorists with ties to the banned Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which is fighting its own battle against Ankara in Turkey. This is while Syrian Kurdish units have been in the forefront of fighting ISIS Takfiri terrorist group which Erdogan also claims to be fighting.
Despite Ankara's repeated warnings to the US and all Kurdish forces to withdraw from Manbij and move east of the Euphrates, the Kurdish groups have remained in the town. Turkey says its incursion into Syria is meant to vanquish Kurds, on the assumption that they seek creating a "state" in northern Syria.
No Fly Zone in Syria
After establishing control in Manbij and al-Bab, Erdogan says he will raise the issue of a no-fly zone over Syria with US President-elect Donald Trump. Mr. Erdogan said he wanted a “terror-free safe zone” in the north of Syria to protect the region that borders Turkey. Previously Turkey had demanded the creation of a no-fly zone in the same area, but the Obama administration was reluctant to support it.
The issue of a no-fly zone in Syria has long been a contentious issue, with some Western countries insisting that such a measure should be used against the Syrian Army. On the other hand, Russia has vetoed all proposals at the UN Security Council to impose a no-fly zone in Syria.
The government in Damascus has on several occasions condemned Turkey attacks against the Arab country terming the incursions as occupation. Turkey also faces criticism for allowing terrorists, including ISIS and Al Qaeda elements, to use its territory for travel and shipment of arms into Syria and buying smuggled oil from terrorists.
Astana Talks
Meanwhile, Turkey says it will facilitate contacts between Syria’s government and opposition groups in preparation for peace talks organized together with Russia and Iran that aim to reach a nationwide cease-fire as the first step to ending an almost six-year civil war.
"We must find a way to stop this bloodiest war of the modern era,” President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said at a news conference in Ankara on Monday. The Turkish government has apparently altered its approach to the Syrian crisis but it remains to be seen how long this paradigm shift will last.
Russia, Turkey and Iran agreed in Moscow last week to seek a ceasefire Syria and hold peace talks in the Kazakh capital, Astana.
