October 23, 2019 | Written by - Ria Raj '21
The Turks, Americans, Kurds, Syrians and ISIS. Yes, all of these bodies are involved in one conflict. As you can tell, this issue is inherently extremely complex. So, who exactly are the Kurds? That and a few other answers about the current Turkey-US-Syria Conflict.
So what’s the deal with Syria?
This is probably the most complex and confusing part of the conflict. It is important to recall that Syria has been in the midst of a civil war since 2011, meaning that military control of the nation has fluctuated quite a bit over time. Millions have been injured and displaced and thousands have been killed. While lack of freedoms and economic woes drove resentment of the Syrian government, the harsh crackdown on protesters exemplified public anger and led to a series of uprisings. Not only regional actors, but nations across the international community have made their attempts at involving themselves in this complex conflict.
So what’s up with ISIS and Syria?
In short, the term “ISIS” refers to the “Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.” The Islamic State has consistently been losing its territorial control in both Iraq and Syria, especially experiencing drastic changes over the period of 2015 to 2019. This is due to the growing anti-ISIL sentiment on the part of both regional and international actors, such as the United States, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey.
Who are the Kurds?
The Kurds are an ethnic group of people indigenous to what are now parts of Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Armenia. 25 to 35 million Kurds live along the borders of these countries. They are the fourth largest ethnic group in the Middle East, but they have yet to obtain a permanent country. The majority are Sunni Muslims. After WWI, promises were made for the creation of a Kurdistan. But when the boundaries for modern day Turkey were being set, the nation never materialized. This left Kurds with minority status in their respective countries. Since that point, the Kurds have been continually unsuccessful at gaining an independent state.
What do the Kurds have to do with the fight against ISIS?
There have been a series of attacks from the Islamic State (IS) targeting the Kurds since 2013. These various attacks have led to several impactful events and a growth in Kurdish involvement. Over time, the Kurds, fighting alongside a US-led coalition, drove IS out of its territory in parts of Syria.
Now, the Kurds face a military offensive by Turkey. Beginning with a long history of Kurdish oppression instigated by the Turks, to defining the Kurdish forces as a terrorist group, and Turkey closing its borders to the Kurds, the situation is quite long lasting.
How does the United States play into all of this?
The United States became involved in the conflict when they led a multinational coalition to aid the Kurdish forces in 2014. The Kurds proved to be a critical ally in the fight against ISIS, but the Turkish operation against the Kurds in Syria has left the US at a crossroads.
The United States and Turkey, are both member nations of NATO and have thus far been close allies. But the Kurds and the United States also have a long history of cooperation, as previously detailed. When the American-led coalition began working in the region, they described the Kurds to be the “most capable of pushing back the Islamic State militants.” This sentiment proved to be true; however, without US support, it may not stay true for long. Donald Trump introduced a massive foreign policy shift by not speaking out against Erdogan’s (the president of Turkey) plan. This action implied a removal of US backing for the Kurds and Trump did eventually pull all troops from the region.
So what has occurred since the US has pulled troops from the region?
President Trump’s announcement prompted a storm of criticism from all sides of the political spectrum and greenlighted Turkey’s incursion. The Turkish offensive was launched on October 10th and continues to become more detrimental. The US has placed economic sanctions on Turkey; NATO nations following suit is an expected next move. Only time will tell.
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