Turkey Risks War With Syria, Russia as Erdogan Threatens More Attacks
Erdogan says he'll take military action 'everywhere in Syria'
Jason Ditz
Turkey committed heavily to keeping the Idlib Province out of the control of the Syrian government. This was meant to be a staging area for Turkish-backed rebels, but with al-Qaeda having seized much of the province months ago, it’s pretty much a Syria vs. al-Qaeda battle now for these towns.
Turkey has doubled down though, insisting Syria will not be allowed to have Idlib, and risking direct war with both Syria and Russia to make it happen. Presidenr Erdogan in particular is threatening military action “everywhere in Syria,” and has given Syria until the end of the month to retreat from Idlib.
In the past, Erdogan has successfully gambled that the Russians would come through with a deal rather than risk a full Turkish invasion of Syria. With the rest of the Syrian War nearly over, however, that may no longer be the case.
Likewise, Erdogan’s bellicosity seems to be greatly emboldened by the US endorsing their operations. If things spiral out of control, however, it isn’t clear that with many Americans still seething at Turkey’s invasion of Syrian Kurdistan the US intends to back them militarily elsewhere in Syria.
Turkey has doubled down though, insisting Syria will not be allowed to have Idlib, and risking direct war with both Syria and Russia to make it happen. Presidenr Erdogan in particular is threatening military action “everywhere in Syria,” and has given Syria until the end of the month to retreat from Idlib.
In the past, Erdogan has successfully gambled that the Russians would come through with a deal rather than risk a full Turkish invasion of Syria. With the rest of the Syrian War nearly over, however, that may no longer be the case.
Likewise, Erdogan’s bellicosity seems to be greatly emboldened by the US endorsing their operations. If things spiral out of control, however, it isn’t clear that with many Americans still seething at Turkey’s invasion of Syrian Kurdistan the US intends to back them militarily elsewhere in Syria.
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