The US-led coalition announced a plan to establish a 30,000-strong border force in Syria that will include fighters of the mainly Kurdish YPG-led Syrian Democratic Forces, primarily known by its acronym – the SDF alliance. The American plan has infuriated its NATO-ally Turkey, which considers the YPG as an extension of the PKK that is internationally recognized as a terror organization, including by the United States and Europe. That is why, in an address to his followers in Ankara, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Washington of creating a “terror army” on the door-step of Turkey, pledging to crush it before it came into being. The Turkish President said, “A country that we call our ally insists on forming a terror army along our border despite all our objections, warnings and well-meant advice. Do you think a terrorist organization formed along the Turkish border has a target other than Turkey?” he asked, while stressing that “Now the United States has confessed they are forming a terror army along our border. What we have to do is to strangle this terror army on our borders before it is born,” the Turkish leader declared. President Erdogan further warned the Kurdish militias that raising U.S. flags and putting American insignia on their uniforms would not save them, signaling to the US to withdraw from Kurdish positions before Turkish forces invade Syria, as they have concluded preparations to launch an imminent full-scale operation against the Kurdish militias that Ankara designated as terrorist organizations. President Erdogan said, “Take your (United States) insignia off the uniforms of terrorists so we do not have to bury them in the ground with the terrorists. The Turkish armed forces will complete Afrin and Manbij issues soon with the help of God. Our preparations are complete, the operation may start any time,” the Turkish President said in an address to his followers in Ankara.
