Turkey and Russia on collision course over Kurdish militia in Syria

During last week’s two-day visit by U.S. special envoy James Jeffrey to Ankara, the U.S.-Turkish delegations discussed joint efforts to set up a safe zone along the Turkish-Syrian border.
Jeffrey has already confirmed that the safe zone will be free of the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) in order to address Turkey’s legitimate security concerns, Demirtas wrote.
Ankara maintains the YPG is the Syrian offshoot of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), an armed group that has been in war in Turkey for over three decades. The Kurdish militia group has taken control of large swathes of territory in northern Syria in the U.S.-backed campaign against the Islamic State. Turkey has requested a safe zone to prevent the YPG from threatening its security and stability.
A safe zone, involving military and civilian officials from both sides, the analyst noted, would also accomplish the implementation of the June 2018 Manbij deal between Ankara and Washington, which stipulated the withdrawal of the YPG troops from this predominantly Arab city towards the eastern Euphrates.
Pointing out that Turkey has for long called on Russia to let the YPG forces leave the area, Demirtas stressed if the group were to leave Manbij, Tal Rifaat would remain the only YPG presence in northwestern Syria.
Turkish-led forces seized the control of Afrin, a town 20 km west of Tal Rifaat, last year, clearing the area off YPG fighters.
Turkish Defence Minister Akar on Friday reiterated that Russia had so far failed to fulfil its promise to remove the YPG from Tal Rifaat, while underlining the presence of the group in the enclave poses threats to locals.
“Tal Rifaat is one of the most critically important locations in northwestern Syria, located between Afrin region and al-Bab provinces, both under the control of the Free Syria Army (FSA) with the support of the Turkish military. Furthermore, Menagh military airport situated in the north side of the province plays an important role in the continued supply of all sorts of assistance to the YPG, including ammunition and weapons,‘’ Demirtas wrote.
Russia, which has a contingent of military police in the province, did not allow Turkey to extend its Afrin operation into Tal Rifaat, despite Ankara’s concerns regarding the YPG’s presence in the region.
Demirtaş also pointed out that The Democratic Union Party (PYD), a political wing of the YPG, has an office in Moscow and is supported by Russian officials that are taking part in the political transition process for Syria’s future.
Turkey and Russia, while reaching a deal on Idlib in September 2018, avoided a full-scale anti-terror operation in the region and as a result the jihadist groups have extend their influence over the civilians in Idlib, the article noted.
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