Turkey is in talks with Russia to make use of the airspace above northern Syria for a possible cross-border operation towards the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia, Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar mentioned on Saturday.
Turkey has carried out a number of incursions into northern Syria towards the YPG and has been threatening a brand new incursion for months. It stepped up preparations final month after a lethal bomb assault in Istanbul it blamed on Kurdish militants.
The Kurdistan Staff Celebration (PKK) militant group and the U.S.-allied Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), spearheaded by the YPG, have denied involvement within the bombing of the busy pedestrian avenue.
Turkey launched air strikes towards YPG targets in November and President Tayyip Erdogan signalled a doable floor offensive.
Talking to reporters on Saturday, Akar mentioned Ankara was in talks with Moscow, which helps Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s forces, concerning the operation.
“We’re in talks and discussing with Russia about all points together with opening the airspace,” he mentioned.
Turkey sees the YPG militia, the main presence within the SDF, because the Syrian wing of the PKK, which is taken into account a terrorist group by Turkey, america and the European Union.
Washington’s assist for the YPG within the battle towards Islamic State has infuriated Ankara, inflicting a significant rift between the NATO allies.
