Tillerson: No role for Assad in Syria’s future
they have received from Russia.”
Tillerson said Iran, Assad’s other main ally, should not be seen as having made the difference in the defeat of Daesh in Syria.
“I do not see Syria as a triumph for Iran. I see Iran as a hanger-on. I don’t think that Iran should be given credit for the defeat of ISIS (Daesh) in Syria. Rather I think they have taken advantage of the situation.”
Tillerson said Iraq must stand on its own in the face of Iranian influence, while recognizing that the two states shared a long border and legitimate economic interests. He was asked by reporters in Geneva about blunting Iran’s influence. “What we are saying to the Iraqis is you must develop the capacity to stand on your own,” he said.
In another development, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hinted at an upcoming operation in the northern Syrian district of Afrin operation once the Turkish Army’s operation in Idlib province, which began on Oct. 8, is complete.
“Our operation in Idlib is nearly complete. Ahead of us is Afrin. These are threats to us, and we’ll never make concessions to such threats,” Erdogan said.
Analysts say an operation in Afrin, which is controlled by the Syrian-Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), could lead to a serious confrontation.
Turkey continues to provide security assistance in northern Syria. The Anadolu news agency reported on Wednesday that since last year, the Turkish Police Academy has trained 5,631 volunteers at five schools in Turkey to help them perform their duties as police officers and special forces units in northern Syria.
According to press reports, Ankara intends to deploy troops at Abu Al-Duhur airport and Taftanaz military air base to surround Afrin.
Bora Bayraktar, a Middle East expert from Istanbul Kultur University, said Turkey has already launched its Afrin operation without making it explicit, by setting up checkpoints along the IdlibAfrin border.
Because the YPG has gained local sympathy in Afrin, Bayraktar said he does not expect a comprehensive operation, but rather a siege.
“The conduct of the operation points at containing the Kurdish militia from expanding its territories toward the Mediterranean,” he told Arab News.
“The presence of the YPG terror group in Afrin could be neutralized in the course of time by coopting local tribes.”
But Russian troops are supporting the YPG in Afrin, so a Turkish operation there would need Moscow’s consent.
Such an operation could further strain relations between Ankara and Washington, as the latter considers the YPG a reliable partner on the ground against Daesh.
“For the moment there’s a fragile agreement with Russia for such an operation, but that could change at any moment,” said Bayraktar.
“Russia may get closer to the Democratic Union Party (PYD), the political wing of the YPG. And the Syrian regime isn’t happy about the presence of Turkish troops,” he added. “Turkey needs to finalize and launch the Afrin operation very quickly, or it will miss the opportunity.”