WSJ reports Türkiye is "building up forces" along the Syrian border
Kurdish officials are said to be urging US President-elect Donald Trump to persuade Ankara against initiating an invasion. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Kurdish officials are reportedly urging US President-elect Donald Trump to persuade Ankara against launching an invasion.
According to a report from the Wall Street Journal on Monday, Türkiye and its militia allies are believed to be amassing forces near the Syrian border, likely in preparation for a significant incursion into Kurdish-held areas, as stated by senior US officials.
The sources cited in the article noted that this buildup includes both militia fighters and Turkish commandos, alongside substantial quantities of artillery. This military concentration is reportedly occurring close to Kobani, a city in Syria with a Kurdish majority, located near the northern border with Türkiye.
One US official indicated to the Wall Street Journal that the focus of Washington is currently on urging Ankara to delay any cross-border operations.
In a related development, Ilham Ahmed, an official from the civilian administration of the Syrian Kurds, has reportedly reached out to US President-elect Donald Trump. In her letter, she requested that he urge Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to refrain from deploying troops.
“From across the border, we can already see Turkish forces amassing, and our civilians live under the constant fear of imminent death and destruction,” Ahmed expressed in the letter reviewed by the Wall Street Journal.
Ahmed also expressed worry that a Turkish operation could be imminent, asserting that Ankara's intention seems to be to “establish de facto control” over Kurdish territories before Trump assumes office in January.
She cautioned that this situation could compel Trump to recognize Turkish authorities as “rulers of our territory,” which would result in “catastrophic” repercussions.
Recently, the US-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces reported coming under attack from Turkish artillery and drones.
US Senator Lindsey Graham responded by warning Türkiye, a NATO ally, that it could face sanctions if it continues to assault US-supported Kurdish forces, which he credited with playing a crucial role in dismantling ISIS.
“We have to ensure that the roughly 50,000 ISIS prisoners in northeastern Syria – being primarily held by Kurdish forces – are not released,” he wrote on X, while acknowledging Ankara's “legitimate concerns regarding different groups” in the region. He added that an ISIS jailbreak would be “a nightmare for America.”
Following the fall of former President Bashar Assad’s government to opposition forces led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham jihadists, much of western Syria has come under the control of armed opposition groups, many supported by Türkiye. However, the eastern and northeastern territories continue to be governed by the Syrian Democratic Forces. Türkiye views the Syrian Kurdish armed units as engaged in terrorist activities.
Debra A Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
According to a report from the Wall Street Journal on Monday, Türkiye and its militia allies are believed to be amassing forces near the Syrian border, likely in preparation for a significant incursion into Kurdish-held areas, as stated by senior US officials.
The sources cited in the article noted that this buildup includes both militia fighters and Turkish commandos, alongside substantial quantities of artillery. This military concentration is reportedly occurring close to Kobani, a city in Syria with a Kurdish majority, located near the northern border with Türkiye.
One US official indicated to the Wall Street Journal that the focus of Washington is currently on urging Ankara to delay any cross-border operations.
In a related development, Ilham Ahmed, an official from the civilian administration of the Syrian Kurds, has reportedly reached out to US President-elect Donald Trump. In her letter, she requested that he urge Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to refrain from deploying troops.
“From across the border, we can already see Turkish forces amassing, and our civilians live under the constant fear of imminent death and destruction,” Ahmed expressed in the letter reviewed by the Wall Street Journal.
Ahmed also expressed worry that a Turkish operation could be imminent, asserting that Ankara's intention seems to be to “establish de facto control” over Kurdish territories before Trump assumes office in January.
She cautioned that this situation could compel Trump to recognize Turkish authorities as “rulers of our territory,” which would result in “catastrophic” repercussions.
Recently, the US-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces reported coming under attack from Turkish artillery and drones.
US Senator Lindsey Graham responded by warning Türkiye, a NATO ally, that it could face sanctions if it continues to assault US-supported Kurdish forces, which he credited with playing a crucial role in dismantling ISIS.
“We have to ensure that the roughly 50,000 ISIS prisoners in northeastern Syria – being primarily held by Kurdish forces – are not released,” he wrote on X, while acknowledging Ankara's “legitimate concerns regarding different groups” in the region. He added that an ISIS jailbreak would be “a nightmare for America.”
Following the fall of former President Bashar Assad’s government to opposition forces led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham jihadists, much of western Syria has come under the control of armed opposition groups, many supported by Türkiye. However, the eastern and northeastern territories continue to be governed by the Syrian Democratic Forces. Türkiye views the Syrian Kurdish armed units as engaged in terrorist activities.
Debra A Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
