Turkey's Strategic Objectives in Syria: An Analysis of Military Movements

Turkey's Strategic Objectives in Syria: An Analysis of Military Movements
December 4, 2024, 1:57 pm

الولايات المتحدة تفاجأ بهجوم المعارضة السورية في حلب

The regions of Aleppo, Idlib, and Hama are witnessing a notable escalation in confrontations amid intense military operations led by armed factions supported by Turkey, highlighting Turkey's ambitions in northern Syria once again.

Former Turkish army general and military expert Erdogan Karakoc indicates that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan may politically benefit from the resurgence of attacks by militants in northwestern Syria. In an interview with the German news agency, Karakoc noted that Ankara seeks to achieve three primary objectives within its long-term plan for Syria.

Karakoc explained that Turkey hopes to facilitate the return of up to two million Syrian refugees to their homeland if the militants can capture the city of Aleppo, which would contribute to reducing the pressures on Erdogan regarding domestic policy.

Additionally, Karakoc believes that pro-Turkey militants could potentially expel the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) from west of the Euphrates, which would enhance Turkey's border security. Ankara considers the YPG to be an offshoot of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and regards it as a terrorist organization.

On the other hand, international relations professor Samir Suleiman sees that regional events are currently being managed under a new vision aimed at diminishing Iranian influence in Syria. Suleiman points out that "the current regional plan aims to force Iran to exit Syria, which poses a significant challenge to the Damascus regime that relies on Iranian support for survival." Ultimately, Turkey is seeking to exploit this weakness to rearrange its position in the region.

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