Syrian state media reported that Iranian-backed militias that are allied with the Damascus regime will enter the northwestern Afrin province to assist Kurdish forces in combating the invading Turkish military. The announcement came after reports claimed a deal was struck between the Syrian army and the YPG militia, a Kurdish force that Ankara views as a threat along its border-region with links to the Kurdistan Workers Party, PKK, an internationally recognized terror organization. Turkey began its Afrin operation with allied Syrian rebels last month against the YPG, which is the most powerful militia within the U.S.-backed SDF alliance, causing tensions between Washington and Ankara. After the NATO-allies announced a rapprochement, however, the Kurdish militia has sought help from Damascus, which has declared Turkey’s operation “an illegal assault on Syria’s sovereign territory.” TV7 could not immediately verify the validity of an emerging alliance between the Syrian army and the Kurdish YPG militia, as both sides were reluctant to divulge the truth behind the reports. That said, on the ground, Iranian-backed militias that support the Syrian army have not yet entered Afrin region, with no signs of an imminent deployment.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu warned that while Ankara supports Syria’s territorial integrity, it will confront any force that will seek to assist the Kurdish militias. That said, during a joint press conference with his Jordanian Counterpart in the city of Amman, the Turkish top diplomat said that if the Syrian regime would enter Afrin province to assist Turkey in eradicating the Kurdish threat, Ankara would welcome Damascus’ assistance. We support it (Syria’s territorial integrity) together and we are one of the greatest supporters. Will the (Syrian) regime enter here (Afrin) or not? What is important is why it will enter if it does so. If the regime is entering here to cleanse the PKK and PYD (influential Syrian Kurdish political party), then there are no problems. However, if the regime comes in to defend the YPG, then nothing and nobody can stop us or the Turkish soldiers. This applies to Afrin, Manbij as well as the east of Euphrates. Thank you,” Cavusoglu said.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan reportedly held a phone conversation with his Russian counterpart, President Vladimir Putin, during which he warned that Damascus would face consequences if it struck a deal with the YPG militia and emphasized that the Turkish offensive in Afrin would continue. There was no immediate comment from the Syrian military or from Moscow.