Turkey will end its military operation in Syria after the town of Manbij is captured, Ilnur Cevik, adviser to Turkish President Recep Erdogan said on February 27 at a conference in Moscow.
“Ankara is trying to regain its presence there,” Cevik said, adding “As soon Manbij is captured, Turkey will stop its operation in Syria.”
Cevik said Ankara is setting up a 56-mile “buffer zone” into Manbij. According to Cevik, this move is explained by the fact that about 85 percent of Manbij and surrounding areas are controlled by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), described as a terrorist organization by Turkey.
Ankara sees the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) as a Syrian branch of the PKK.
At the same time, the so-called “Syrian Democratic Forces”, which allegedly control the area, are just a branding effort to hide the fact that the US supports the YPG in Syria.
Indeed, the US leadership promised to Erdogan in 2016 that YPG units would withdraw from the Manbij area. However, this “promise” was ignored by US-backed Kurdish forces.
Click to see the full-size map
In case of a direct confrontation with the YPG, Ankara will be pushed to deploy more troops and military equipment to Syria. A high number of artillery, battle tanks and the air power are the main advantages of the Turkish army and its proxies. However, even in this case, the battle against the YPG will not be so easy for Ankara-led forces.
The operation in al-Bab clearly showed that fighters of the so-called Free Syrian Army (FSA) are not so good in a direct confrontation against motivates opponents.
hahahaha ypg already said if turkey attacks them in manbij area they will abandon raqqa and fight for manbij, and didnt some us general said they will help sdf/ypg ?
Yes, a visiting US General said that US aircraft and adviser’s would ensure the Kurdish presence in Manbij. All this will be interesting to watch.
If Turkey kill an american all may will became more funny :D
Nothing will happen. Bosphorus is much more important than Kobani.
And Trump is not Hillary Clinton :D
worse :)
What is even funnier, neither nation has been invited by the elected Syrian Government to lend a hand.
Wow, now your name makes sense! +1
lets hope murica removed all nukes from that turkey base
They did, ages ago.
FSA seems able to take areas after they have been vacated, but I don’t think SDF is going to that at Manbij. How many civilians must die from Turkish bombardment so Erdogan can create a safe zone for them HA! To help level the playing field, maybe SDF needs a thousand more ATGM’s. Then we all get to watch videos of leopard again.
Unless Erdodog is just trying to talk his way to Raqqa! Walk loudly and carry a small stick?
I hope they have taken them by ISIS prisoners.
This is starting to look like, The Battle of 5 Armies, from The Hobbit. This issue had to be addressed at some point. I’m going to guess that the U.S. and Russian air forces will not attack the Turks if they attack the SDF, unless the YPG engages in some lightning fast negotiations with Assad which they have not been inclined to do.
The Turks have felt free to shell the SAA with artillery in the past, if the Turks attack the SAA again and more seriously, will the RuAF attack the Turks? This seems like a much more problematic question. A coin toss on this one. My guess would be at best, a delayed response after a long warning.
Money, money, money. Putin need the money of the Turkey. If Trump can’t delete the sanctions, i hope Le Pen can do it. Sure, France are not USA and EU and Japan have sanctions against Russia also. Putin will not declare easily war to Turkey.
Indeed, the US could nuke half of Russia and Putin would call it a ‘provocation’ and refuse to do anything about it.
I don’t think :D
Not an argument :D
the history is argument. russia 1 is when nobody attacks them. russia2 rise, when is attacked directly.
I guess you have no idea, that not only does Russia have more nuclear warheads than the US, and can razor the US to the ground, but, also they are programmed, to react owing to a variety of events, setting off a chain reaction and do not even need a human finger on the button.
Can Russia destroy US missile defenses in Europe?… http://www.pravdareport.com/russia/politics/17-05-2016/134450-russia_usa_missile_defense-0/
$40-BILLION MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM PROVES UNRELIABLE… http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-missile-defense-20140615-story.html
Why does he need turkeys money?
codename: bluestream. until summer russia lose all reserves and has no money for the run of state. russia sold gas firm to people from qatar.
putin spit the twopilots shot down by turks.
Also Turkey need Russia :D Turkey is not in a better situation :D
turkey need more usa nad EU. turkey will be never allied with russia.
But Turkey haven’t a lot of feeling with them :D
do you mean west? just now they are playing theatre. withut NATO they can not repair and maintain the military equipment.
unforunnatelly , they can…
ok, maybe, but how?
Really?
Russia does not have the money, despite, being in control of her wealth of natural resources, that the world actually need?
Despite virtually being able to back the ruble with gold?
Despire having currency reserves of over $390,000,000,000?
Despite having minimal debt (around 15% GDP Debt)?
Despite being a creditor nation?
Turkey National Debt: $249,276,802,606
Interest per Year $20,300,400,000
Interest per Second $644 Debt per Citizen
$3,410 Debt as % of GDP
37.24% GDP $669,332,000,000
Population 73,100,000
Russia National Debt: $153,844,294,041
Interest per Year $9,541,556,000
Interest per Second $303
Debt per Citizen $1,052
Debt as % of GDP 15.43%
GDP $997,000,000,000
Population 146,300,000
United States National Debt: $19,935,984,579,823
Interest per Year $443,833,210,730
Interest per Second $14,074
Debt per Citizen $61,464
Debt as % of GDP 106.75%
GDP $18,675,300,000,000
Population 324,352,551
Blue Stream… http://www.gazprom.com/about/production/projects/pipelines/active/blue-stream/
TurkStream agreement approved by Russia… https://www.worldpipelines.com/project-news/19122016/turkstream-agreement-approved-by-russia/
Putin ratifies TurkStream pipeline… http://www.gtreview.com/news/europe/putin-ratifies-turkstream-pipeline/
World Gold Chart
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/77cb9c36939e45b63a8e0e8ed950fcb8cff3bee6836d53c2a360fd0a77084c08.png
Russia Currency Reserves Chart
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/f5495fb8496715d816aafb2fb4fa3e1a26b99a0f334652904702fc029c2872da.png
World Debt Chart
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/75b0229cdc29efb4dfddbaa73a4f6dc2732604e55ec1ec5aee9f5213a7ecb1a4.png
old data
Despire having currency reserves of over $390,000,000,000?
check the actual amount.
go to the hell with your tales.
http://www.tradingeconomics.com/russia/foreign-exchange-reserves
January: 390 billion February Forecast: 395 billion :D
Or you have a Erdogan’s site who say the opposite? :D
this is nothing. this year will decreaase fatally. and from 5% jumped the up 15% pf GDP
russia is in trouble. without western technology can maintain the oil fields and is closing- slow, but sure.
Have you seen this article?
Moscow Rubs Salt Into Washington’s Wounds: Turkish Stream Is Back — and It Signals Victory in Syria
A pipeline that will circumvent the west, built in partnership with a NATO member. The ultimate victory lap for Moscow… http://russia-insider.com/en/moscow-rubs-salt-washingtons-wounds-turkish-stream-back-and-it-signals-end-conflict-syria/ri19064
what money, turkey is begging germany for monay
Is not a tribute XD Is commerce. Russia need commercial partners
they got china, china will need steel and comodities, soo russia is great partner
They can’t commerce only with China. Aniway in April they can have France who is maybe better than Turkey.
They do not just trade with China.
BRICS – http://thebricspost.com/
Why the New Silk Roads terrify Washington… https://www.rt.com/op-edge/361898-new-silk-roads-terrify/
Russia’s Top 10 Exports… http://www.worldstopexports.com/russias-top-10-exports/
Not forgetting:
Novatek (oil, gas)
Norilsk Nickel (diversified metals)
Transneft (oil and gas equipment)
Uralkali (specialized chemicals)
Tatneft (oil, gas)
Alrosa (diversified metals)
Novolipetsk Steel (iron, steel)
UC Rusal (aluminum)
NATURAL RESOURCES IN RUSSIA… http://factsanddetails.com/russia/Economics_Business_Agriculture/sub9_7e/entry-5176.html
Russia possesses rich reserves of iron ore, manganese, chromium, nickel, platinum, titanium, copper, tin, lead, tungsten, diamonds, phosphates, and gold, and the forests of Siberia contain an estimated one-fifth of the world’s timber, mainly conifers… Russia – Natural Resources – Country Studies
countrystudies.us/russia/59.htm
BRICS – Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa
Just under 50% of the world population. Over $6 trillion in currency reserves. They have the majority of the world’s natural resources and are dominant in the service and manufacturing industries.
New Silk Road Investments and Infrastructure, and who dominates the New Silk Road, besides Russia and China?
Russia and China trading in each other’s currencies and dumping $USD petro-currency reserve.
Then you have the Shanghai Cooperation Organisationa and also the Eurasian Union. Russia, does not seem short of friends, in the emerging economies.
But can be better. Nato sanction have caused trouble to russian entrepreneur. I’ve not said Russia is in bankrupcy.
It has also strengthened Russia, owing to making her self dependent. Look at the agricultural industry and how sanctions have helped them? It is Europe that have lost $billions, owing to sanctions. Russia and the US carry on as normal, even increasing trade.
Russia is still hoovering up the gold and increasing her currency reserves. Which European or G7 nation can say the same?
Western sanctions have strengthened the Russian economy… https://www.sott.net/article/294722-Western-sanctions-have-strengthened-the-Russian-economy
Thisis interesting :D
AMN reports that the FSA statement of Tiger loses at Tadef where a fabrication. Not surprising at all. Also reported that YPG have taken 9 villages south of Manbij that were held by ISUS. And Al Khafsa is next.
SDF reinforcements have arrived in Manbij area. Looks like they are working with SAA, even reports of Tigers giving them arty support.
This day if full of good news!
RuAf will not pound turks, if they attack SAA. pipeline Blue Stream is royal flush.
well then assad needs to get on the phone with putin and get confirmation of what he would do if that happens
everythink khorosho (good) will answer putin :)
maybe putin can talk erdogan out of trying to go further into syria, they all want ISIS gone, and russia wants that pipeline thru turkey, so maybe russia needs to give turkey something in exchange for the pipeline but what exactly?
or americans tell to erdogan, if he will attack assad, can keep north aleppo.
Putin won’t like that and for what? Attacking Assad is the dumbest thing to do
putin knows, without troops he is not able to stop any country in syria.
Anyway the YPG have seized some villages, yes? I need the map
A few weeks ago deputy prime minister of Turkey said that ES would end after taking Al Bab, and I don’t think they will stop after Manbij and Afrin, probably they will try to clean all their border from SDF. It doesn’t look good for sdf, they will have to fight in two fronts, turks in the north and isus in the south. At the end independent kurdish state dream will be destroyed once more, they will be swallowed by turks and isus.
“they will be swallowed by turks and isus” So they are working together?
FSA does not seem up to the task, will Erdogan put up with higher casualties for his army.
What about SY/RU/Coalition airpower?
AMN just reported thousands of Peshmerga and YPG crossing into north Syria from Iraq.
There target is ISUS north of river. This will relieve pressure on Deir Ezzor.
This is great news!
First, pesmerge is allied with turks, and history shows turks have condemed many operations in northern iraq, and they never stayed for long, after taking northern syria they will leave those areas to fsa, and saa and ru will be pleased for turks taking sdf down. Afterall they will have mandate to attack fsa when turks leave, and also ru will win a strong aly like turkey. When we come to the coalition, they still haven’t decided who to support in this conflict. But one thing for sure they will never conduct a air attack against their nato ally, and even if they want to, they wouldn’t be able to do so. Almost all coalition aircrafts use turkish incirlik base, taking of from a turkish base and attaching turkish soldiers would be foolish.
SDF are the boots on the ground against ISUS.
Idea of TU/FSA attacking them is just trash talk.
Erdogan says all SDF are PKK?
There are 60k turkish soldiers in the border since the beginning of the civil war, they have always been there for a backup plan, maybe someday there will be need for them. And if they start to march south, they can take whole sdf areas with raqqa in less a week. But I don’t know what their casualty would be like in this case.
@efendiaka:disqus you are wrong. 1 Peshmerga is not allied with Turkey, its the kurdish president massoud barzani. The Peshmerga hates turkish forces and most of the generals went to Syria in 2015 to fight alongside YPG in SDF uniform. 2 Turkish troops never leave an area, look at Mosul and Tal-afar. Turkey is getting angry and wants troops even in Mosul. This is strategy of war to use. They will leave turkish forces there by using FSA clothes… as of right now where are the american advisors in Syria? They are all dressed up as in SDF clothes so they wont be recognized. When Turkey have paid blood for AL-BAB at the cost of 150 turkish soldiers and 400 injured… you think they leave so easily… LOL turkish history shows it in other parts like Iraq? BTW turkey have 4 bases in Iraq near Dohuk province.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Turkish_Armed_Forces_operations_in_Northern_Iraq
Here you can see the list of turkish operations in northern iraq, each lasted less than a month. I am sure turkish army has good relations with peshmerga. if they they didn’t,they wouldn’t train them at all, turkish authorities claim those bases in iraq are for training and supporting peshmerga against isus, and maybe against pkk in the future. Peshmerga helped them before and they can help again. You have to see there is a power struggle against communist kurds and other kurds. Pkk doesn’t want independence only from turkey, but they want it in all 4 countries in the region, so they are not a problem for only turks but also iraqi kurds too.
These peshmergas help was the worst they could done.From this poin for everybody clear, that also the syrian kurds want 1 state, big kurdistan and not autonomy for royava. if turky begin full scale attack, the kurds lose everything. be sure, america will not fight with nato member turkey. incirlik and dardanelles are more important for usa than siria and iraq together.
Maybe in the control of an allied government. Erdo is not :D
That report may well be fake. Only AMN made it, and the photo they used was 2 years old.
turks won’t go into qamashi or al hasshak.
do not be sure
Why are the USA standing so hardy for YPG? It is clear YPG has no chance if Turkey uses its full armed forces.
We seen TAF is in Syria whenever they fail turkish commentators blame FSA when they succeed it’s TAF who pulled it off they are incompetents and do not look impressive more of an embarrassing moment.
We (U.S.) had better stand with the Kurds. We owe them and have betrayed them more than once in the past. As far as I am concerned, if the criminal Turks attempt to drive to Manbij, we should exercize our air power and slaughter them.
hhaha you (US) can nothing
hahah from incirli? :) you (U.S) can nothing.
You all here have no clue how the superpowers russia and usa works. You re just too dump to say at least. USA or russia do not need to attack turkey you morons they just need to give the right weapons and money to their proxies and turkey will have a war they just can not win. The war against PKK (at that time a rag tag militia) is about 40 Years and ruined the economy because they lost 350 billion dollars that it. Turkey is on the brink of economic collapse. Now they face kurds which have about 40.000 (they have men pads, anti guided missiles and so on) militia. The US can supply deadly weapons which they already have done. Turkey has done his biggest mistake by allowing the superpowers coming to his borders. The lions are there and turkey will understand that it is not the hunter in this game. turkey is unexperienced and not much sophiscated to play with the lions. This time it will be very costly and will end in the break up of the country.How the USA plays is for the most people not understandable. If the kurds need air power in the fight against turkey than their air power will be the syrian once. Syria air defense will pulverize turkey old F-16 before they cross into turkey. If they need missiles, artillery support it will be syrian once, which have been modernized by russia to defend against turkey. Russia and USA will just watch how turkey will be bogged down and get hit and hurt. Than big daddys will say be nice turkey we are you friends and want you to help. What can turkey do ? Economy is desolate, country isolated, military diveded (coup, islamict secular war) Erdogan will have to accept the new terms of the game before accepting kurds autonamy on their own soil. This is just matter of time. Russia and USA make history again not Turkey.
the stupidest thing , while the middle-east (including Turkey) is falling down, the superpowers shouldn’t think that the countries will remain peaceful..
We will build many airbases across the new Kurdistan. Erdogan is an imbecile.
The Turks and their terrorist raghead army are about to get a rude awakening. They are boxed in and surrounded by SDF (with new US weapons) and SAA (who have stated their intention to push all Turkish forces out). Manbij is fortified, reinforcements are pouring in, and the US is there too, with the objective of protecting Manbij from the Turkish slime. Time to order some popcorn.
THE YPG is not ISIS. Once they end their operations they can easily take all those areas back from the Turkish army unless the SAA does not provide airsupport.
None dare call it ethnic cleansing. Americans should be involved in this ghastly mess because self identified wise men said so???