Turkish Analyst:

Ankara Turning to Moscow, Tehran

Rasa - The Turkish operation in Syria, known as 'Euphrates Shield', shows that Ankara is changing its stance towards Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and is ready to cooperate with the key regional players, including Moscow and Tehran, an analyst said.

News ID: 423188

Date: 03 September 2016 - 19:00

RNA - Semih Idiz, author of many analytical pieces on foreign affairs, noted that Turkey could stay in Syria for a long time, according to Russian news agency Sputnik.

"The government announced that the operation would last as long as needed. Thus, I can’t rule out that Turkish forces may stay in Syria for long, at least, as long as the situation in Syria is unstable," Semih Idiz said in an interview with the Turkish newspaper BirGun.

According to the expert, the Jarabulus operation has several goals; The first goal is to destroy militants of the ISIL group. The second is to push Kurdish forces to the West from the Euphrates.

Then, Turkish forces will try to establish a controlled safe region, from Jarabulus to Azaz, for refugees and at the same time to create a buffer zone between Turkey and Syria.

"Of course, the US is not happy with the conflict between Turkey and Kurds. Washington is facing a dilemma because the US is glad that Turkey is fighting Daesh," he said, adding that currently Turkey is also supported by Russia and Iran. Moscow and Tehran has long insisted on the need to preserve Syria’s territorial integrity.

"If Ankara has changed its stance towards [Syrian President Bashar] Assad then it means that Iran and Russia are close to a compromise with Turkey on the Kurdish problem," the expert suggested.

Idiz also commented on the dangers Ankara could face during the operation.

"Of course, there is a risk factor. Some say that Turkey may be dragged in a quagmire. It’s true because such operations always have risks. At the same time, the West is unlikely to interfere because Turkey is fighting Daesh [ISIL] in Syria," the expert stressed.

Turkey declared on August 24 that the Turkish Army has launched 'Euphrates Shield' military operation in Syria, as Ankara claims that it has begun to cleanse the ISIL terrorists from its border with the Arab country.

Damascus has condemned Ankara's military operation and entry of Turkish special forces and tanks into Syria while Moscow has expressed deeply concern about what is happening in the Syrian-Turkish border area.

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