Seth J. Frantzman

The prospect of another, even bloodier clash in Syria is growing

Turkey and Russia back different sides in the Syrian conflict, but they do agree on one thing: the role of the United States in Syria has grown too large. This view accounts for the recent Turkish incursion against US-backed Kurdish militias in Afrin, in northern Syria. As well as taking military action, Turkey’s politicians are now also growing in confidence in speaking out against the US. The country’s deputy prime minister, Bekir Bozdag, is the latest to do so, warning US soldiers in Syria against wearing ‘terrorist uniforms’ of the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG). He went on to say:

‘If US soldiers wear terrorist uniforms or are among the terrorists in the event of an attack against the army then there is not going to be the chance to make a distinction. If they come up against us in such a uniform we will see them as…terrorists.’

The prospect of another bloody clash in Syria is growing, and it is not only Turkey piping up against what is being viewed as a US incursion. Syrian state media also condemned Washington this week, accusing it of supporting ‘terrorists and murderers’ in Syria. After seven years of conflict in Syria it appears many parties finally agree on something: they want the US out of the country. 

This tension has been bubbling away for some time. Moscow, Damascus and Ankara have shared interests in eroding American power in Syria now that the war on Isis is winding down and the front lines hardening. In addition, Turkey, Russia and Iran have held a series of talks over the last year discussing common agendas in their version of regional stability. They want to own the post-Isis Middle East and the US is in the way.

While the US – and other members of the anti-Isis coalition – see the Syrian Democratic Forces as key partners against the caliphate in Syria, Turkey has tended to view the YPG (which is one component of the SDF) as ‘terrorists’ affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers Party.

Already a subscriber? Log in

Keep reading with a free trial

Subscribe and get your first month of online and app access for free. After that it’s just £1 a week.

There’s no commitment, you can cancel any time.

Or

Unlock more articles

REGISTER

Written by
Seth J. Frantzman

Seth Frantzman is the author of Drone Wars: Pioneers, Killing Machine, Artificial Intelligence and the Battle for the Future (Bombardier 2021) and an adjunct fellow at The Foundation for Defense of Democracies.

Topics in this article

Comments

Don't miss out

Join the conversation with other Spectator readers. Subscribe to leave a comment.

Already a subscriber? Log in