The Turkish government is expected to use an operation against Kurdish forces in Syria as a tool to consolidate voters ahead of elections, Syrian journalist Sarkis Kassargian told Artı Gerçek on Tuesday.
There are reports in the Syrian press that a Turkish military operation against Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) is expected before Turkey’s 14 May elections, explained Kassargian.
“Military operations are often mentioned during elections,” said the journalist. “The possibility of an operation is expected,” he said.
Ankara claims the SDF is an extension of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and poses a national security threat for Turkey. A large-scale operation into northern Syria ahead of elections could alter Turkey’s domestic political scene and boost nationalist sentiment in the country.
“We can guess the timing of such an operation: it might be before the elections. But we cannot estimate scale or exact location,” Kassargian said, adding that the scope of such operations not only depends on decisions made in Ankara, but also on diplomacy with Russia, Iran, and the United States.
“From Damascus, it is observed that Moscow and Tehran have severe concerns and objections about this issue. I cannot say it will absolutely happen, but there is an expectation for an operation,” said Kassargian.
The journalist claimed that Syrian President Assad is stalling a clear reconciliation with Turkish President Erdoğan because Damascus expects the Turkish opposition to win in Turkey’s 14 May general elections.
Damascus sees victory as a likely outcome for the opposition block’s presidential candidate Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, said Kassargian.
“That is not because they know Kılıçdaroğlu well, but because they know Erdoğan very well. There is no trust for Erdoğan,” he said.
The once-close ties between Assad and Erdoğan have been seriously damaged over the past 13 years over Ankara’s support to Syrian rebels since the start of the civil war in Syria.
The neighbours have been engaged in Russia-brokered reconciliation talks since last year. Efforts towards a rapprochement are expected to continue with a meeting scheduled for May between Turkey, Syria, Russia and Iran’s foreign ministers.
