Turkey warns against Kurdish takeover of Raqqa as ISIL capital faces encirclement

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Turkey warns against Kurdish takeover of Raqqa as ISIL capital faces encirclement

Robert Hackwill

 

 

ANKARA: -- Raqqa is seen as one of the birthplaces and capital of ISIL’s would-be caliphate, but the pincers are now starting to close on the Syrian city of more than 200,000 people.

 

US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, mostly Kurdish fighters, are beginning to approach the outskirts and have taken a number of surrounding villages as they take up positions for a siege.

 

But the advance is making Turkey nervous.

 

“We say that every step taken by non-Arab elements as part of the Raqqa operation will be against the interests of the United States. It will be against the peace in the region as well. This is a cul-de-sac. This is the wrong path,” said Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus.

 

The offensive began on Saturday and is getting air support from the US-led coalition, with efforts currently mostly north of Raqqa. Syrian Kurdish leaders have said it should be liberated by Syrian Arab groups, some of whom fight with the Syrian Democratic Forces.

 

 

-- © Copyright Euronews 2016-11-08

[Kasset Tak]

Turkey is not better than Syria but as it's NATO member there will be nothing done about that by US or EU.

 

[Kiwiken]

The Turks just want the Ottoman empire back.

[coma]

2 hours ago, Kiwiken said:

The Turks just want the Ottoman empire back.

 

Bang on !!! The Turks cannot be trusted these days.

[KBsinter]

2 hours ago, Kiwiken said:

The Turks just want the Ottoman empire back.

 

 

Yeah, they will want part of Iraq,Syria,Turkey is power hungry......

[Baerboxer]

Nothing to do with Turkey. Keep their noses out. Their hatred of the Kurds seems similar to their hatred of the Armenians once before.

 

The dictator Erdogan, whose another wanting to establish a family political clan irremovable from office, is hungry for power.

 

But NATO, the EU and the US are fearful of driving him more towards Russia now he's buried the hatchet with Putin.

 

Turkey are a severe threat to NATO now, a potential loose canon but their bases are very valuable.

[Maybole]

The Kurds are doing most of the fighting in Iraq while the other groups hang back. The Kurds will feel entitled to a reward.

What will that be ? Will they get any ?

[Scott]

Most likely they will not.   In the past they really haven't.   I think a lot of them fight to preserve some sense of identity and safety from outside forces.   They have done a good job at that.  

[Kiwiken]

Everyone will turn on the Kurds it is the way of the world.