Israel in recent weeks has quietly lobbied the U.S. administration to press Turkey against a military operation into northern Syria targeting Kurdish forces, news site Axios reported on Wednesday, citing two Israeli officials.
Israeli national security adviser Eyal Hulata told his U.S. counterpart Jake Sullivan that a fresh military operation into the neighbouring war-torn country would harm the Kurds while benefiting Iran in the long run, it cited the Israeli officials as saying.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in May said his military was preparing for an operation in northern Syria with the goal of expanding a 30-kilometer (19 mile) security zone that extends south from the Turkish border. The zone was established after another Turkish military offensive in 2019.
The offensive could involve tens of thousands of Turkish troops and Syrian fighters and would target the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and the People’s Protection Units (YPG), a Syrian-Kurdish group it considers to be an extension of the PKK, an armed group that has been at war in Turkey for Kurdish self-rule for 40 years.
Israel’s message was conveyed to the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden by several other Israeli officials, according to Axios.
Earlier this week, Erdoğan reiterated his plans for the offensive, saying Turkey wants more help from Russia and Iran but is capable of continuing its fight against “terrorist” organisations in Syria without needing any support.
The Turkish leader made the remarks during a meeting with his Russian and Iranian counterparts in Tehran on Tuesday, AP reported.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Tuesday advised Erdoğan against a new military offensive in Syria, Deutsche Welle Turkish reported, warning that such a move would “be to the detriment of Syria, Turkey and the region.”
The United States in May warned Turkey, which has launched three offensives into Syria since 2016, a new offensive into the country, saying its NATO ally would be putting U.S. troops at risk, France 24 news site reported.
Ahval