Idlib

Turkey's Disastrous Month in Syria

Turkey's Disastrous Month in Syria

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has found himself increasingly cornered in Northern Syria, as more than 30 Turkish soldiers were killed in a possible Russian strike in Idlib’s south – the greatest single loss Turkey suffered in Syria.

The attack has followed several others in February which brought the Turkish death toll to over 50 in the space of one month, increasing the risk of a greater escalation between Turkey and Russia-backed Syria, paving the way for a humanitarian disaster and creating the yet biggest furore among the Turkish public.

What went wrong for Turkey? What are Erdogan’s options on the table? Will the ‘refugee card’ help bring back Western support? Will Russia escalate? Will censorship work to contain Turkish public reaction, this time?

A Dangerous Escalation: Turkey at Loggerheads with Syria and Russia in Idlib

A Dangerous Escalation: Turkey at Loggerheads with Syria and Russia in Idlib

Turkey announced on Monday (10 February) that 5 Turkish soldiers were killed in Idlib, due to shelling by the Syrian forces, increasing the number of Turkish deaths in Syria to 13 in one week, marking a serious escalation in the conflict and bringing the two adversaries closer to war. The analysis marks the military, diplomatic and humanitarian aspects of the incident and argues that it portrays Turkey’s vulnerability in the Northwest Syria.

PLANNED TURKISH OPERATION INTO NORTHERN SYRIA TESTS LIMITS

PLANNED TURKISH OPERATION INTO NORTHERN SYRIA TESTS LIMITS

US President Donald Trump, after talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, decided –once again- to pull back US troops from (Northern) Syria. While the troop withdrawal is on way, Pentagon officials and some heavy-weight senators are trying to dissuade Trump, as they did and succeeded in late 2018. Will Trump make another U-turn? If not, will Russia and Iran give implicit backing to a Turkey-led operation in the east of Euphrates? Turkey is testing limits in Syria, once again.