Erdogan threatens to destroy new US-backed border force

Syria calls them ‘traitors’

ANKARA: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday threatened to thwart the creation of a new US-backed 30,000-strong border security force in northern Syria before it was even set up, reports AFP.

“America has acknowledged it is in the process of creating a terror army on our border. What we have to do is nip this terror army in the bud,” Erdogan said in a televised speech outside Ankara.

Meanwhile, Syria yesterday lambasted the US-led coalition’s plan to create a 30,000-strong border force in the country’s northeast, saying it would consider its members “traitors”.

The alliance fighting the Islamic State group announced on Sunday that it was working with Arab and Kurdish fighters to establish a Border Security Force (BSF).

The BSF would be responsible for preventing a “resurgence” of IS in areas where the jihadists had been cleared by the Syrian Democratic Forces.

But an official source in Syria’s foreign ministry on Monday denounced the plan.

“Syria strongly condemns the US announcement on the creation of militias in the country’s northeast, which represents a blatant attack on the sovereignty and territorial integrity and unity of Syria, and a flagrant violation of international law,” said the source, cited by state news agency SANA.

“Syria considers any Syrian who participates in these militias sponsored by the Americans as a traitor to their people and nation, and will deal with them on this basis.”

Turkish officials objected earlier that the new force would be comprised of the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) militia Ankara accuses of being terrorists.

The YPG played a a key role in the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) alliance that last year ousted Islamic State jihadists from their stronghold of Raqa in northern Syria.

American officials said at the weekend that the new force was needed as the focus shifted from fighting IS extremists to border security in northern Syria.

The new upsurge of tensions between Ankara and Washington comes as Erdogan repeatedly threatens that Turkey could launch a cross-border operation to oust the YPG from the Kurdish-held town of Afrin in northern Syria.

Erdogan on Monday reaffirmed again that the Turkish army was ready “at any moment” to launch an operation against the YPG in Syria. “The preparations have been completed, the operation could start at any moment,” said Erdogan.

Turkey accuses the YPG of merely being the Syrian offshot of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) which has waged an over three-decade rebellion in the Turkish southeast and is regarded as a terror group by Ankara and its Western allies.

 

Erdogan threatens to destroy new US-backed border force

Syria calls them traitors

ANKARA: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday threatened to thwart the creation of a new US-backed 30,000-strong border security force in northern Syria before it was even set up, reports AFP. America has acknowledged it is in the process of creating a terror army on our border. What we have to do is nip this terror army in the bud, Erdogan said in a televised speech outside Ankara. Meanwhile, Syria yesterday lambasted the US-led coalitions plan to create a 30,000-strong border force in the countrys northeast, saying it would consider its members traitors. The alliance fighting the Islamic State group announced on Sunday that it was working with Arab and Kurdish fighters to establish a Border Security Force (BSF). The BSF would be responsible for preventing a resurgence of IS in areas where the jihadists had been cleared by the Syrian Democratic Forces. But an official source in Syrias foreign ministry on Monday denounced the plan. Syria strongly condemns the US announcement on the creation of militias in the countrys northeast, which represents a blatant attack on the sovereignty and territorial integrity and unity of Syria, and a flagrant violation of international law, said the source, cited by state news agency SANA. Syria considers any Syrian who participates in these militias sponsored by the Americans as a traitor to their people and nation, and will deal with them on this basis. Turkish officials objected earlier that the new force would be comprised of the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG) militia Ankara accuses of being terrorists. The YPG played a a key role in the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) alliance that last year ousted Islamic State jihadists from their stronghold of Raqa in northern Syria. American officials said at the weekend that the new force was needed as the focus shifted from fighting IS extremists to border security in northern Syria. The new upsurge of tensions between Ankara and Washington comes as Erdogan repeatedly threatens that Turkey could launch a cross-border operation to oust the YPG from the Kurdish-held town of Afrin in northern Syria. Erdogan on Monday reaffirmed again that the Turkish army was ready at any moment to launch an operation against the YPG in Syria. The preparations have been completed, the operation could start at any moment, said Erdogan. Turkey accuses the YPG of merely being the Syrian offshot of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) which has waged an over three-decade rebellion in the Turkish southeast and is regarded as a terror group by Ankara and its Western allies.