The Turkish- Kurd conflict

On the 9^th Of October 2019 Turkish forces invaded the borders of Syria, which were controlled by the Kurdish militia called Syrian Democratic Force. This followed the withdrawal of US forces from the area after a phone call between US President Donald Trump and the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. This conflict has caused the displacement of thousands of Syrian civilians and damage to a significant amount of infrastructure. Read about War in Ukraine.

Who are the Kurds?

An oppressed minority ranging from 7-10% of the total Syrian population, the Kurds are a largely Muslim demographic who speak their own language. In 2019, Bashar-UL-Assad’s forces withdrew from Kurdish areas to focus on fighting the rebel factions in other places. In their wake, the Kurds took control of the area and became the strongest ally of the US in the region in fighting ISIS. Their strongest militia called the People’s Protection Unit formed an alliance with the local Arab militias to form the Syrian Democratic Force. After driving the IS presence from the area with the help of the international coalition, the SDF set up an autonomously governed region in one quarter of Syrian region. This northern region falls alongside the Turkey-Syria border.  

Why did Turkey attack?

Within Turkish borders, the government has struggled with the Kurdistan Worker’s Party, which is recognized as a terrorist group by both Turkey and the US. This group has carried out several attacks across the years to draw attention to the cause of an autonomous Kurdish region. The Turkish government has strong suspicions that the SDF has ties with the Kurdistan Worker’s Party. The presence of SDF by Turkish border threatens the government, especially as it becomes increasingly powerful with US support and regional autonomy. Until October the US forces were present at the border to create a safe-zone between Turkey and SDF-occupied area. However, the new administration is isolationist and Trump himself has expressed a strong desire to withdraw from Syria. Following a phone call between the US and Turkish Presidents, US forces withdrew, and Turkey invaded with the intention to create a 440km long safe zone along the Turkish border with Syria. The Turkish economy is currently suffering through a severe economic crisis. Turkey has been taking in many Syrian refugees over the years and the current situation is driving the government plan to resettle these refugees in this safe zone.  

Resolution

With the US out of the picture, Russia and the Bashar-UL-Assad’s government became key players in the conflict. Unable to fight off the Turkish advance, the SDF asked the Syrian government for help. In turn they gave up the fight against ISIS. Reports claim that detention camps under SDF’s control that housed relatives of ISIS members and prisons have suffered breakouts. The Syrian government agreed to help the Kurds fight the Turkish troops. On the 17^th of October, the US convinced Erdogan for a five-day ceasefire so the SDF forces could withdraw from the now Turkish controlled safe zone. Meanwhile, the Russian President Vladimir Putin and Erdogan came to an agreement and announced the end of this conflict. The terms of the agreement are as follows; Turkish forces will remain in and control the 120km strip of territory they have gained, the rest of the border will be under the control of Russian and Syrian troops while the Kurds will retreat 30km from the border, and Turkish and Syrian forces will begin a joint patrol 10kms along the border. With this, the conflict came to an end with a decisive change in regional powers and key figures in the Syria. While the US has withdrawn from the region, Russia and the Syrian government have arisen as more influential and important allies. With the strengthening of Bashar-UL-Assad’s government, the US interests continue to falter. Lastly and most dauntingly, ISIS regains momentum in the region.