Attacks against Syria and Iraq: What does Turkey want?

Development of a major air offensive against Kurdish positions in Syria and Iraq, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had announced it early in the summer. On Sunday night (20.11), a week after Istanbul's bomb attack, the Turkish Air Force carried out attacks against the Kurdish positions of the PKK and Kurdish militias of YPG, north of Syria and Iraq. According to the Turkish Army, 90 positions, including bunkers, tunnels and ammunition depots, were destroyed during the attack. In addition, “neutralised 184 terrorists”. According to reports by Syrian activists, at least 35 people were killed during Turkey's offensive, among them ten Syrian government soldiers.

There was no dead north of Iraq, it becomes known. An independent verification of these data is not possible.

With the mimics of YPG, popular defence units, Ankara sees the extended hand of the PKK, the Kurdistan Labour Party, the party that has been banned in Germany and has been introduced from Europe and the US on the list of terrorist organisations.

Ankara accuses these two organisations of being responsible for the latest attack conducted in Istanbul, where six people were killed and 80 others injured. For their part, the YPG and the PKK have denied any involvement in this attack in any way. The YPG is backed by the US and has played an important role in the expulsion of the jihadist militias from Syria to the Islamic State, (IS).

Military offensive already arranged?

Since the US has withdrawn, Turkey has repeatedly attacked northern Syria. In this way, Ankara has managed to take over a portion of Syrian border territories under its control. Erdogan now continues with another step, threatening to develop a ground offensive.

Kurdish militiamen also announced the development of revenge attacks, which did not delay. On Monday (21.11), a missile fell in the province of Gaziantep, on the Turkish-rian border. Two people died, 19 were injured.

Mild reactions from Moscow and Washington, different from other times, show Ankara has previously spoken to the two countries for offensive. “We have communicated on diplomatic roads with all participants”, said President Erdogan, “and we have taken different steps correctly. ”

Even Sinem Adar, an expert on Turkey at the Berlin Science and Politics Foundation, thinks Turkey has not carried out the attack only with its own head. In conversation with Deutsche Welle, she says the American consulate in Erbil, the capital of the autonomous Kurdish region in northern Iraq, had asked citizens two days before the Turkish offensive to leave the affected territories.

Critical From Germany

The Kurdish community in Germany accuses Turkey of mainly attacking hospitals, residential neighbourhoods and transport facilities. According to them, Turkey's military strategy aims to subdue the civilian population or displace it. The Kurdish community requires the German government to take the same stand, which it takes against Russia. When international rights are violated, double standards cannot be used, Deutsche Welles told them. War causes suffering, brings death, and moves people from their country. Many FDP, Greens and Left politicians condemned the wood attack called “contrary to international law”. Even the German government urged Turkey on Monday to refrain.

Christofer Burger, the foreign ministry spokesman, urged Ankara to react in line with the situation, respecting international law. This includes protection at all times of civilians and civilians.

Bomb attack only on pretext?

In the view of many experts, Ankara's major offensive did not come unexpectedly. It is possible that the Turkish government has long planned its development and has only waited to find a pretext. Currently, it seems the international political situation is in Ankara's favour. Experts for Turkey, Sinem Adar, recalls talks that are under way for the accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO. Ankara has so far blocked the two countries' accession, accusing them of supporting “Kurdish terrorists” and urging them to include the YPG on the list of terrorist organisations. In addition, Russia's influence in Syria has fallen because of the war in Ukraine.

For Ismail Küpelin, political science researcher from Duisburg, operations as the current military offensive are part of Ankara's basic policy, to drown Kurds' efforts for autonomy and independence from the roots. But even Turkey's difficult economic situation plays a role in the revival of the major offensive. Elections are held in Turkey at the beginning of the summer, and the AKP aims to remain in power. According to official data, the inflation rate in Turkey has recently been 85.5 per cent. Many people are unable to meet basic needs. Critics accuse Erdogan of demanding that with the major offensive he turn his attention away from the crisis, in times of crisis boosting the nationalist feelings of the people so as to boost support in domestic politics.

This account seems to have turned out well: Because the whole opposition actually supported the military offensive. Faik ãoztrak, spokesman for the biggest opposition CHP party, said (21.11) his party supports the Turkish Army's fight against terrorism and terrorist organisations.

The soldiers are our soldiers, the army is our army. Our fight against terrorism is legitimate, and who cares about soldiers to win more votes is not making politics,” said wagerak.