Turkey To Launch Ground Attack On US-Backed Kurdish Forces In Syria

Turkey and the United States may be headed for confrontation in Syria as Ankara prepares to launch a ground attack on US-supported Kurdish forces in northern Syria in response to a terrorist attack in Istanbul, last week.

• Turkish President Recep Erdoğan said yesterday: “We have been bearing down on terrorists for a few days with our planes, cannons, and guns. God willing, we will root out all of them as soon as possible, together with our tanks, our soldiers.”
• Today, Erdoğan stated that Turkey will carry out the planned military offensive “at the most convenient time for us.”
• White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said that Turkey has a legitimate right to defend itself and its citizens but said cross-border operations “might force a reaction by some of our SDF partners that would limit and constrain their ability to fight against ISIS…and we want to be able to keep the pressure on ISIS.”
• Analysts have pointed out that the US may not push too strongly against Turkey due to Ankara's crucial role in approving Sweden and Finland’s accession to NATO.