Turkey Threatens Rojava

U.S. Special Envoy for Syria James Jeffrey met with senior Turkish officials this week to hash out the details on the creation of "safe zones" in northern Syria. The talks did not go to Ankara's liking. According to Reuters,

After U.S. special envoy for Syria James Jeffrey held talks with Turkish officials, Turkey said on Wednesday it had run “out of patience” with Washington and warned that it would carry out a military operation in the region if an agreement on the safe zone was not reached.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said the United States was stalling progress on the safe zone, just as it did with a joint roadmap agreed to clear the northern Syrian town of Manbij of the YPG last year.

At a briefing in Ankara on Thursday, Turkish military officials said talks on the planned safe zone with the United States would continue, but reiterated that Turkey’s expectations on the Manbij roadmap had not been met.

“Work is planned to continue in the coming period. We cannot share details as efforts are under way. Our aims are clear. The Turkish army is the only force capable of doing this,” one of the officials said regarding the safe zone.

These safe zones were agreed to by Trump last December. Trump promised at the same time to withdraw all U.S. forces in northeast Syria, which prompted the resignation of U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis and ISIS czar Brett McGurk. Trump eventually walked back the troop withdrawal. Today thousands of U.S. troops remain in Syria.

What are these "safe zones"? The Defense Post reports that

How such a buffer zone would be created by Turkey is unclear. A 20-mile zone would encompass the majority-Kurdish towns including Qamishli and Kobane as well as strategic cities controlled by groups affiliated to the Syrian Democratic Forces, such as Tal Abyad and Manbij. It would also include Ayn Issa, the new administrative center for north and east Syria.

The Turkish government has long been threatening to launch a military incursion to clear the border area of the predominantly Kurdish YPG, which forms the core of the U.S.-led Coalition-backed SDF in ground operations against Islamic State.

Washington’s support for the group has infuriated the Turkish government, which views the YPG as a branch of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, designated a terrorist organization by Turkey and its Western allies.

In Manbij, Turkey expected the U.S. to get rid of all heavy weapons, eliminate the YPG, and hand the city over to a Turkish-approved governing council.

Turkey does not appear to be willing to settle for anything less than military control of this 20-mile buffer along the border, an area heavily populated by the Kurds and vital to any future Rojava.

Turkey appears willing to fight. The Defense Post story ends with the following:

Turkish media reported a significant buildup of Turkish military forces along the Syrian border in the days following the [S-400] missile system’s initial delivery.

An undisclosed number of U.S. troops still remain in northern Syria. American officials have taken Turkey’s threats seriously in past internal discussions.

American patrols were reported in the border area near Serê Kaniyê (Ras al-Ayn) earlier this week after the Turkish military said it retaliated against rocket fire from the Syrian side that landed in the Turkish town of Ceylanpinar.

Both the SDF and YPG also said a shell was fired from Syrian territory but denied responsibility and said an investigation was underway.

The YPG called the incident a “provocative act” and a “clear attempt to disrupt stability in NE Syria.”

The United States is vulnerable in northeast Syria. It would have to use air power to defend its troops on the ground. Erdogan's purchase of the S-400 is proof that Turkey is serious about attacking Rojava.