Turkiye threatens military action against Kurdish forces in Syria
Al JazeeraTurkiye has threatened to launch a military operation against Kurdish forces in Syria unless they accept Ankara’s conditions for a “bloodless” transition following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad last month. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told CNN Turk television late on Tuesday that “we will do what’s necessary” if the People’s Protection Units fail to meet Ankara’s demands. Al-Assad’s overthrow by opposition rebel forces last month raised the prospect of Turkiye intervening directly against Kurdish forces in Syria, which are accused by Ankara of links to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party. The remaining cadres must lay down their weapons and join the new system, this is for a bloodless and problem-free transition.” When asked if Turkiye would still intervene in Syria despite the US support for the YPG, Fidan said: “We did it in the past in Afrin, in Ras al-Ain and in Tal Abyad”, referring to locations in northern Syria that Turkiye has targeted.