The sports category has moved to a new website.
ADVERTISEMENT

Turkey plans new 'anti-terror' offensives after Syria op

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said IS, the PKK and also the Peoples' Protection Units (YPG), a Kurdish militia, would face enduring very nice surprises from the spring

Turkey announced last week that it had completed the Euphrates Shield operation in Syria, which began in August to expel Islamic State (IS) militants and Kurdish militia groups from the border area.

But Erdogan indicated that this by no means meant an end to cross-border operations by Ankara against IS and Kurdish groups classified by Turkey as terror groups, like the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

"The first stage, the Euphrates Shield operation... is over. But more will follow," Erdogan said in a speech in the Trabzon region near the Black Sea ahead of the April 16 referendum on expanding his powers.

"There is no stopping, the road continues. We are making preparations for new operations in other regions for getting to the terrorists on their hills. We will give new names to the new operations," he said.

ADVERTISEMENT

Erdogan said IS, the PKK and also the Peoples' Protection Units (YPG), a Kurdish militia, would face enduring "very nice surprises" from the spring.

The YPG is an ally of the United States in the fight against IS fighters in Syria, but is seen by Turkey as a terror group and the Syrian branch of the PKK.

"The next months with God's permission will be spring for the Turkish nation and a black winter for the terrorists," Erdogan added.

He did not specify where the new operations could take place.

Plans for a joint operation with the United States to capture the de facto IS capital of Raqa in Syria have floundered over Washington's support for the involvement of the YPG.

ADVERTISEMENT

Turkey meanwhile wants to shunt the YPG out of the strategic Syrian town of Manbij. There has also been repeated speculation of new action to defeat the PKK in its stronghold of northern Iraq.

Analysts have said that Turkey risks being sidelined as the war in Syria enters a new phase, with the United States working with the Kurdish fighters, and Russia also open to cooperation with the YPG.

The Euphrates Shield operation which began on August 24 saw Syrian opposition fighters backed by the Turkish army recapture towns including Jarabulus, Al-Rai, Dabiq and Al-Bab.

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: news@pulselive.co.ke

Recommended articles

Gov't & opposition officials clash at Rita Tinina's burial ceremony

Gov't & opposition officials clash at Rita Tinina's burial ceremony

CS Murkomen unveils new number plates for cars that will get preferential treatment

CS Murkomen unveils new number plates for cars that will get preferential treatment

Moi University students escape through windows after road crash

Moi University students escape through windows after road crash

57,000 civil servants to have their rent reviewed upwards

57,000 civil servants to have their rent reviewed upwards

Interesting story of U.S. Army Specialist Wambui who comes from a military family

Interesting story of U.S. Army Specialist Wambui who comes from a military family

Heroic GSU officer dies after jumping out of a taxi along Thika Super Highway

Heroic GSU officer dies after jumping out of a taxi along Thika Super Highway

DJ Joe Mfalme detained for 14 more days

DJ Joe Mfalme detained for 14 more days

Explosive blows up hotel next to police station, deaths reported

Explosive blows up hotel next to police station, deaths reported

DP Gachagua publicly seeks forgiveness from Mama Ngina Kenyatta

DP Gachagua publicly seeks forgiveness from Mama Ngina Kenyatta

ADVERTISEMENT