Erdogan is Now Too Brazen: What The National Interest Reports

40,000 foreign militants who joined ISIS have arrived through Turkish territory. This is reported by The National Interest.

On November 20, Turkey launched the "Claw of Syria" operation, conducting extensive airstrikes in northeastern Syria. Turkey has targeted more than 265 sites, including civilian infrastructure, destroying schools, hospitals, grain storage facilities, electricity and water stations, and oil plants. As a result of Ankara's assault, twenty-eight people were killed, including fourteen civilians.

The publication notes that the most shocking strike was the one on the joint base of the U.S.-led coalition that is aimed at defeating ISIS, located just 130 meters from U.S. personnel. The U.S. has called for a de-escalation, but Turkey has continued to carry out airstrikes against security forces monitoring the Al-Hol camp.

Turkey's president has announced plans for a ground invasion into northern Syria.

During Turkish incursions in 2018 and 2019, several organizations recorded horrific atrocities as Turkish and Turkey-backed forces persecuted religious and ethnic minorities, including Yazidis, Christians, and Kurds, particularly women. War crimes continued even after the invasions ended, with atrocities perpetrated by Islamist militants under Turkish control.

Despite Turkey claiming to be a more effective partner in fighting ISIS, it is evident that Ankara has been complicit in the group's resurgence. In fact, Brett McGurk, the U.S. coordinator for the Middle East, announced in 2019 that 40,000 foreign fighters who joined ISIS had entered through Turkey.

Moreover, ISIS had been nearly eradicated before Turkey's incursion in 2019, but Ankara's attacks allowed ISIS to return.

Turkey's economy is collapsing, and Erdogan is now excessively brazen. He is exploiting the false threat of “terrorism” to rally support ahead of next year's elections, despite no border attacks from Syria.

The U.S. must not allow Erdogan's lies to be used as a pretext for invading Syria. Turkey itself poses a threat to freedom, peace, and security in Syria. The U.S. and the international community must make the consequences of Turkey's invasion of Syria excessively heavy.