Turkey attack on Kurdish fighters in northern Syria

Turkey launched a military operation against Kurdish fighters known as the Syrian Democratic Forces in northeast Syria after US troops pulled back from the area.

The operation could reshape the map of the Syrian conflict once again as it was Turkey’s third such incursion since 2016.

What does turkey want?

Turkey has two main goals in northeast Syria: to drive the Kurdish YPG militia which it deems a security threat away from its border, and to create a space inside Syria where 2 million Syrian refugees currently hosted in Turkey can be settled.

Who are Kurdish Fighters?

The Kurds are an ethnic minority group that mostly occupy a mountainous region straddling the borders of Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Syria and Armenia. Most Kurds are Sunni Muslims.

Although Kurds are the largest ethnic minority in Turkey, making up roughly 20% of the population, they are not recognized as a minority group in Turkey.

Their demands have varied from wanting a separate country for themselves to demanding greater autonomy within the framework of existing states.

Operation Peace Spring: It aims to neutralize terror threats against Turkey and lead to the establishment of a safe zone, facilitating the return of Syrian refugees to their homes

Turkey views Kurdish YPG fighters in northeast Syria as terrorists because of their ties to militants waging an insurgency inside Turkey.