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US Vetoes “No Fly Zone” In Erdogan’s Syrian Safe Area

Islamic State-free ‘safe zone’ in Syria on the cards but only just

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Middle East Correspondent

Fighters from the Kurdish People's Protection Units near a checkpoint in the outskirts of the destroyed Syrian town of Kobane, Syria in June.Fighters from the Kurdish People’s Protection Units near a checkpoint in the outskirts of the destroyed Syrian town of Kobane, Syria in June. Photo: Getty Images

Beirut: A joint US-Turkey plan to create an Islamic State-free strip of Syrian territory along its border with Turkey looks set to go ahead, although details on the so-called “safe zone” remain sketchy as the two countries worked to finalise the agreement.

It comes as NATO ambassadors prepared for an extraordinary emergency session requested by Turkey to discuss the serious security threats posed by the extremist Islamic State group.

Islamic State fighters launched simultaneous attacks against the Syrian government and Kurdish militia in Kobane in June.Islamic State fighters launched simultaneous attacks against the Syrian government and Kurdish militia in Kobane in June. Photo: Reuters

US discussions with Turkey centred on a 110-kilometre strip of territory that was still under the control of Islamic State militants, the US State Department spokesman John Kirby told a news conference in Washington.

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He was quick to stress that the US has ruled out the imposition of a “no-fly” zone to protect the area from Syrian government air strikes, despite repeated requests from Turkey for such a move.

The idea of the buffer zone was to “establish an ISIL-free zone and ensure greater security and stability along Turkey’s border with Syria”, Mr Kirby said.

Pro-Kurdish Peoples Democracy Party leader Selahattin Demirtas speaks to the media about Turkey's air strikes against Kurdish rebel bases in Iraq on Monday.Pro-Kurdish Peoples Democracy Party leader Selahattin Demirtas speaks to the media about Turkey’s air strikes against Kurdish rebel bases in Iraq on Monday. Photo: AP

However, there is already deep concern in some circles, particularly from Kurdish groups, that Turkey’s recent entry into the US-led coalition against IS provides a convenient cover for it to carry out attacks against its long-time enemy: the PKK and its allies.

They question whether Turkey’s recent campaign of air strikes against IS in Syria and Kurdish positions in Iraqi Kurdistan were aimed more at limiting the Kurds’ newly won territory in north-eastern Syria than fighting IS.

The YPG, or People’s Protection Units, have proved to be one of the most effective forces against IS, providing vital ground troop support for the US-led coalition air strikes against IS militants in Syria. They won the Syrian border town of Kobane from IS and went on to secure another strategic Syrian border town, Tel Abyad, last month, cutting off a key IS supply route for weapons and fighters and expanding the territory under Kurdish control inside Syria.

People protest in Istanbul against their government's air strikes against Kurdish militants.People protest in Istanbul against their government’s air strikes against Kurdish militants. Photo: AP

“It is not clear yet if or how that ISIS-free zone is going to materialise, how it would be protected or what it would be used for,” said Cale Salih, a visiting fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations.

“There is a lot of fear amongst Kurds that Turkey will use that kind of zone to target the PYD or at least to restrict it in terms of the PYD’s quest for more territory that would link Afrin and Kobane, which is one of their main strategic goals in Syria.”

The PYD, or Democratic Union Party, along with the YPG is an affiliate of the PKK or Kurdistan Workers Party, which waged a decades-long armed struggle against Turkey. But, Ms Salih points out, the PKK has a new mission in Syria which has very little to do with resistance against Turkey.

Turkish police raid the homes of IS suspects in Ankara on Monday.Turkish police raid the homes of IS suspects in Ankara on Monday. Photo: AP

“It is really about establishing an economy in northern Syria, it is about linking the two cantons, fighting jihadists, and that is a real opportunity for the peace process and a chance for the PKK to move away from this identity that it has had for so long which is about resistance in Turkey.”

After holding out for almost a year, Turkey entered into an agreement with the US on Friday that will allow US war planes to launch air strikes from Turkey’s Incirlik Air Base. Soon after Turkey began bombing IS targets in Syria and on Saturday it also began attacking on Kurdish targets in northern Iraq.

“A lot of people are quite alarmed that Turkey has gone after ISIS and the PKK at the same time because it invites retaliation from both inside Turkey,” Ms Salih warned.

A Turkish Air Force AS-532AL Cougar helicopter takes off from Incirlik airbase in the southern city of Adana, Turkey on Monday.A Turkish Air Force AS-532AL Cougar helicopter takes off from Incirlik airbase in the southern city of Adana, Turkey on Monday. Photo: Reuters

“That could seriously destabilise south-eastern Turkey … and present a genuine national security threat for Turkey in terms of ISIS.”

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, who was due to chair Tuesday’s extraordinary closed-door session, expressed solidarity with Turkey after “recent heinous terrorist attacks”, but cautioned against abandoning its peace process with the Kurds.

For years “there has been progress to try to find a peaceful political solution”, he told Norwegian state broadcaster NRK. “It is important not to renounce that … because force will never solve the conflict in the long term.”

Syriac-Assyrian Christians in Syria also urged NATO to refrain from allowing Turkey to launch attacks against Kurdish positions in Syria.

“Any Turkish attack … will give ISIS all the space it needs to undo any progress against it,” a statement from the group released on Monday reads.

Statement by the North Atlantic Council following Turkey’s Article 4 meeting

[NATO basically told Turkey to deal with it…terrorism is everybody’s problem, NOT AN  ARTICLE 5 matter…]
North Atlantic Council Meeting following the request of Turkey for Article 4 consultations

Turkey requested the meeting in view of the seriousness of the situation after the recent terrorist attacks, and to inform Allies of the measures it is taking.

Statement by the North Atlantic Council following meeting under Article 4 of the Washington Treaty

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The North Atlantic Council met today at Turkey’s request to hold consultations under Article 4 of the Washington Treaty, which states that “the parties will consult whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence, or security of any of the parties is threatened.”

At its meeting today, the North Atlantic Council discussed the threats against Turkey.

We strongly condemn the terrorist attacks against Turkey, and express our condolences to the Turkish government and the families of the victims in Suruç and other attacks against police and military officers.

Terrorism poses a direct threat to the security of NATO countries and to international stability and prosperity. It is a global threat that knows no border, nationality, or religion – a challenge that the international community must fight and tackle together.

Terrorism in all its forms and manifestations can never be tolerated or justified.

The security of the Alliance is indivisible, and we stand in strong solidarity with Turkey.

We will continue to follow the developments on the South-Eastern border of NATO very closely.