While the Turkish state continues to threaten with an invasion of northern and eastern Syria under the name of "security zone", today a delegation of US military has arrived in Turkey for talks. The meeting will discuss the resolution plan prepared by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria and the occupation plans imposed by the Turkish state.

On July 22, US Special Envoy for Syria James Jeffrey held talks with Turkish politicians in Ankara. At the same time, Kenneth McKenzie, commander of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), met with SDF Commander General Mazlum Abdi and representatives of the autonomous administration in Ain Issa.

Two different plans

The autonomous administration proposes a five-kilometer inland zone, omitting the cities in the border area. Turkey, on the other hand, imposes a zone to reach 30 to 35 kilometers. After talks with US envoy Jeffrey, representatives of the Turkish state rejected the proposal, arguing that it was inadequate, and threatened war.

Erdoğan: We will shatter! - Bahçeli: We will burn down!

While Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu described the US plans as unsatisfactory, President Erdoğan commented on the negotiations on a security zone as follows: "Whatever happens, we are determined to smash the terror corridor in the eastern Euphrates. We do not need permission for that.”

Erdoğan’s coalition partner Devlet Bahçeli, leader of the MHP (Nationalist Movement Party) said, "Northern Syria must be set on fire, they must be shown the strength of the Turks."

Explanations of James Jeffrey

Jeffrey then visited European states from the anti-ISIS coalition. Upon his return to Washington, he said that agreement could not be reached with Turkey on a security zone. At an US State Department press conference, he said that the US is bound by its promise not to allow an attack on the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). He responded to the question of whether the US guarantee for the SDF persisted: "We are committed to our word that those who fight at our side will not be attacked by anyone. That includes Turkey.”

Talks in Ankara

The second round of talks on the planned security zone are taking place in Turkey today. A US military delegation will be talking to Turkish officials about "border security." Meanwhile, Turkey's military activities continue especially on the border with Şêxler, Kobanê, Girê Spî and Serêkaniyê. While the autonomous administration of North and East Syria has focused on diplomatic activities, the people and military forces in the region continue to prepare for an invasion attack by Turkey.

Neo-Ottoman dreams from Afrin to Kirkuk

Turkey is seeking a new edition of the national pact Misak-i Milli with its occupation plan. So far, the Turkish state has occupied Jarablus, Azaz, al-Bab, Idlib and Afrin, and now wants to occupy the line starting from Manbij and extending to Şêxler, Kobanê, Girê Spî, Serêkaniyê, Dirbêsiyê, Amûdê, Qamişlo and Dêrîk to the east of Euphrates, and then to reach Kirkuk and Mosul.

Step for a political solution

The autonomous administration of North and East Syria declares at every opportunity that they want no war. The plan they presented is considered a step in favor of a political solution. As Aldar Xelîl of TEV-DEM told ANF, their efforts for a solution focus on diplomatic initiatives. This is also the objective of the proposed plan, which Xelîl summarizes as follows:

"The security zone can reach up to five kilometers into the interior and will not involve cities. The area may be under the supervision of the International Coalition or the UN. The security in the area is not the responsibility of the YPG/YPJ and SDF, but of the forces affiliated to local councils. The forces of the international coalition can patrol the area. The presence of Turkish military cannot be accepted but civilian representatives are conceivable together with the coalition.”

Turkey wants to take the international transport route

Turkey, on the other hand, imposes a "security zone" 30 to 35 kilometers into the interior of the region. Turkey seeks to take control of the international traffic route (Rotko) which is located some 30 kilometers south of the line extending from Şêxler, Kobanê, Girê Spî, Serêkaniyê, Dirbêsiyê, Amûdê, Qamişlo and Dêrîk in eastern Euphrates.

Taking this route, which connects roads from South Kurdistan to Aleppo, Damascus and the Arab countries, constitutes a great importance for the Turkish state’s neo-Ottoman and Misak-i Milli dreams. With the capture of this road, which is an important trade route, Turkey also plans, as the second or third step of its occupation plan, to transport oil from Kirkuk and Deir ez-Zor to the Mediterranean.

First goal is Girê Spî

The first occupation target of Turkey is Girê Spî (Tal Abyad). By taking the city, the Turkish state aims to reach Ain Issa, which is regarded as the capital of the autonomous administration of North and East Syria. Turkey expects that the capture of Ain Issa would open the way to Raqqa. With this offensive, Turkey seeks to cut off Kobanê, Cizirê, Raqqa, Tabqa, Manbij and Deir ez-Zor from each other as the next steps of the occupation plan.

Extended war zone

In a recent interview with Yeni Özgur Politika newspaper, Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Commander General Mazlum Ebdi said that if the Turkish army attacked anywhere, it will turn into a great war. “If there is an attack against us, the 600 km border will turn into a battlefront. That would mean a second civil war period in Syria.”

Asked to what extent the population will resist a Turkish invasion, TEV-DEM Executive Board Member Aldar Xelîl said that people in the region have resisted and maintained this position since the beginning of the Syrian war. "These people have already experienced too many wars. In order to save them from further war, we focus on diplomatic work. Should there be an attack, however, the people will resist. They are preparing for it. At present, we are attracting a lot of sensitivity from the democratic public, as well as from the four parts of Kurdistan and from our people living abroad. However, people will defend themselves against an occupation to the very end.”

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