MORE FROM TURKEY: Erdogan Accuses U.S. of Creating `Army of Terror’ on Turk Border.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Washington of establishing an “army of terror” along the Turkish border, as his country drew closer to open confrontation with U.S.-backed Kurdish troops in neighboring Syria.
Erdogan, who regards the Kurdish fighters as affiliates of Turkish Kurds battling for autonomy in Turkey’s southeast, said Monday that a Turkish offensive in the Kurdish-controlled town of Afrin in northern Syria was imminent. The spark for the campaign is a new U.S.-backed plan to turn thousands of Syrian Kurds who fought Islamic State into border guards in areas they control along Turkey’s frontier.
Turkey is afraid the Syrian Kurdish fighters’ incorporation into the force will give them cover to stage attacks on Turkey. It also says it will further their aim to consolidate a single autonomous region including Afrin along the Turkish frontier, and embolden PKK separatists the Turkish military has been fighting for more than three decades. Turkish military reinforcements were moved into the Afrin area over the weekend, state-run Anadolu news agency reported.
“Turkey will suffocate this terror army before it’s born,” Erdogan said. “Our preparations have been completed. The operation is due to start any moment. After that, other regions will follow.”
Other regions?