On October 9, 2019 Turkish Military Forces along with the Syrian National Army have initiated Operation Peace Spring in the Northeast of Syria. The Operation has been commenced with the aim of securing Turkey’s borders by eliminating terrorist elements of PKK/YPG[1] and ISIL and to ensure the safe return of Syrian refugees as well as Syria’s territorial integrity. Turkey’s primary objective focuses on targeting the terrorists group PKK and its extension PYD/ YPG which constitute a serious threat not only to the security of Turkey’s borders but also to Syria by jeopardizing its territorial integrity and unitary structure.

Turkey, who is an active actor in the fight against terrorism, has a 911-kilometer (566-mile) border with Syria. The operation has been carried in line with the country’s right to self-defence borne out of international law, Article 51 of the UN Charter and UN Security Council resolutions on the fight against terrorism while being respectful of Syria’s territorial integrity. Turkey especially underlines the significance of respecting Syria’s territorial integrity and express high sensitivity to avoid harming civilians during the operation.

Since its foundation in 1984, more than 40,000 people lost their lives as a result of PKK terrorism. PKK’s acts of terror range from: attacking infrastructure, various facilities, schools and ambulances, kidnapping nurses and customs officials, to using cyanide in order to poison drinking water supplies[2]. PKK, which has been designated as a terrorist organization both by the US and EU, aims to disrupt state structures in Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria. In parallel to this aim, it has established regional franchises such as the Democratic Union Party (PYD) and the People’s Protection Units (YPG) in Syria[3], the Kurdistan Democratic Solution Party (PCDK) in Iraq and Kurdistan and the Free Life Party (PJAK) in Iran. Evidence showing the organic links between PKK and PYD/YPG is abundant. While the decision to establish PYD was taken during the 8th Congress of the PKK (2002), PYD’s statute indicates that “party members should stay loyal to Abdullah Ocalan (PKK leader) and struggle for his freedom” and “PYD recognizes Abdullah Ocalan as the commander and KONGRA-GEL as the Higher Legislature of Rojava”.[4] Under the light of these factors it is possible to say that, these links offer concrete evidence for Turkey’s legitimate security concerns and exhibits the arbitrary and duplicitous approach of recognizing PYD/YPG as a legitimate political and military actor. Obviously, such approaches in the international arena undermine international peace and security along with humanitarian and democratic values.

Abdullah Öcalan’s poster in the 8^th Congress of the PYD Europe Organization

PKK/YPG which now controls approximately a fourth of Syria[5] has set up an autonomous administration and created a terror zone over the course of Syria’s civil war. PKK/YPG’s human rights violations in the region has reached to the point of ethnic cleansing by plundering the homes of civilians and forcing Syrian Arabs living in the suburbs of Tal Abyad, a Syrian border city under the al-Raqqa governorate, to migrate.[6] Only between February 2015 - August 2015, Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) recorded killing of 47 individuals (including 9 children and 8 women) and arbitrary arrestment of more than 612 civilians (including 19 children and 8 women) under the violations committed by Kurdish Self-Management Forces (established by PYD/YPG) in Al-Hasaka governorate[7]. Furthermore, 2019 Report by SNHR reveals continuing human rights violations by Kurdish Self-Management Forces (PYD/YPG) by documenting that 285 civilians (including 29 children and 26 women) have been killed and 965 individuals (including 83 children and 74 women) have been arbitrarily arrested at the hands of Kurdish Self-Management Forces. The report also underlines Kurdish Self-Management Forces responsibility on at least four massacres in the area[8]. At the time of writing, 17 civilians have been killed in the south-eastern border districts of Turkey by YPG terror attacks and two reporters which were following the Operation Peace Spring were injured by an YPG sniper attack[9].

Source: Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR), The Annual Report of the Most Notable Violations of Human Rights in Syria in 2018, http://sn4hr.org/blog/2019/01/16/53065/

As being an active player in the fight against terrorism, Turkey presents a comprehensive plan for the region which does not only include military but also humanitarian measures. Turkey currently hosts around 3.6 million Syrian refugees and 300,000 Syrian Kurds who have fled the violence of the YPG and the Syrian regime[10]. In this vein, Operation Peace Spring not only aims to secure Turkish borders and Syria’s territorial integrity but it also stands as a vital part of the plans to resettle two million Syrians in a 30-kilometer (19-mile) wide safe zone to be set up in Syria, stretching from the Euphrates River to the Iraqi border, including Manbij. As part of the measures for the stability and security of the region, the Turkish Presidency presented development plans which include the establishment of universities, schools, youth centres, hospitals, sports halls and 200,000 housing units in the safe zone. Since 350,000 Syrians have voluntarily returned to areas in northern Syria following Turkey’s two previous operations - 2016’s Operation Euphrates Shield in northern Aleppo province and last year’s Operation Olive Branch in Afrin[11]-, Turkey’s plans represent significant steps in building future of the region.

In the final analysis, Turkey launches Operation Peace Spring with the aim of eliminating the terror corridor in south-eastern border and to bring peace and stability in the region. Turkey’s strong emphasis on international law, its high sensitivity to avoid harming civilians during the operation and its future development plans for the safe-zone clearly indicate the benevolent nature of its actions. It should not be forgotten that, rather than closing the doors to the refugees in the name of national security, Turkey has chosen to host 3.6 million Syrian refugees in its territory. Under the framework of this complex, unpredictable and interdependent security environment, states need to assume greater responsibility and devote more of their energies and sources to be able to stabilize the situation. In this respect, with its comprehensive measures Turkey seems to take significant and effective steps in generating security and stability in the region.