The Turkish military has stepped up surveillance flights over the Syrian-Turkish border, where clashes between Kurds and al-Qaeda-linked groups are threatening Turkey's security, and a top Turkish official said that Ankara would not tolerate an autonomous Syrian Kurdish entity on its southern border . Today`s Zaman repoorted
According to privately owned İhlas News Agency, Turkish warplanes departed Tuesday from Diyarbakır Air Base on surveillance missions along the Syrian-Turkish border. Tension is simmering in the region as clashes between Kurds and Islamist groups rage and Syrian groups fight to gain the upper hand in the country's North.
The Turkish military stepped up operations along Turkey's southern border after fierce fighting between the Democratic Union Party (PYD), a political offshoot of the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), and the al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front began threatening security in Turkish border towns.
In Ceylanpınar and Akcakale, two border towns in Turkey's Şanlıurfa province, have been hit by stray bullets. One Turkish teenager has been killed by fire from across the Syrian border last Wednesday, and the Turkish military has returned fire into Syrian territory, in line with its rules of engagement.
The security situation deteriorated in the Turkish border towns after PYD forces captured Tal Abyad, a Syrian town very close to Akcakale, and Ras al-Ain, another town just a few hundred meters from Ceylanpınar, last week. The Kurdish militant group replaced the flag of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) with their own in Ras al-Ain when they captured the town following days of clashes with al-Nusra fighters.
In a sign of intensifying Turkish precautionary measures, according to İhlas, Turkish jets are patrolling the Syrian territory with F-16 jets that are authorized to strike targets in Syria if they observe any threats. Reports indicate that the military is also bolstering security along the Turkish border with Syria.
Special forces units from the Gaziantep Police headquarters are patrolling 24 hours a day in the Turkish border province of Kilis, news outlets reported.
Turkey say no tolerance for an autonomous Kurdish entity in Syria
Turkish authorities already concerned about Syrian Kurdish militants' recent strengthening along Turkey's borders are further alarmed over reports that the PYD is preparing to declare autonomy in northern Syria.
On Monday, Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arınc said Ankara could not ignore the possiblity of a de facto Kurdish entity in northern Syria as this might put the territorial integrity of the Syria in jeopardy and present a security threat to Turkey.
Speaking at a press conference after a Cabinet meeting in Ankara, Arınc called efforts by the PYD to declare autonomy in northern Syria "unpleasant."
When asked if Turkey was considering armed intervention in the event that an autonomous Syrian Kurdish entity is established, the deputy prime minister said that Ankara was closely following developments on the ground.
Arınc added that Turkey would respond "carefully" and in a "cool-headed" manner to PYD moves in southern Turkey.
Arınc accused some groups in Syria of taking advantage of the power vacuum in the war-torn country. He added that Syria's unity and territorial integrity were very important for Turkey.
"We have said that we are not going to accept any de facto entities that would be established in Syria by any ethnic groups or sects," he said, adding that Turkey wants a legitimate and democratic administration in Syria regardless of ethnic, religious and sectarian differences.
Arınc also touched on security risks posed by clashes between Kurds and al-Nusra Front fighters. "It is not acceptable for developments [in northern Syria] to spill over into [Turkey] and reach a level that would be a risk to our citizens' safety," he said.
US uneasy about reports of declaration of autonomy by Syrian Kurds
As clashes raged between PYD and al-Nusra forces on Monday night, stray bullets hit a garden wall in Ceylanpinar. No injuries were reported, but Ceylanpinar residents faced another terrifying night as the sounds of heavy fire came over the Syrian border. Officials have asked Ceylanpınar residents to stay away from the border and not use their balconies.
According to reports, the fighting in Ras al-Ain rekindled on Monday night after a quiet day. The two groups had stopped fighting the day before after exchanging prisoners, reports said. The PYD had kidnapped several fighters, including the leader of the Islamic State of Iraq and Sham (ISIS), one of the most powerful al-Qaeda-affiliated groups fighting in Syria. ISIS leader Abu Musab was released in exchange for 400 pro-PYD Kurds being held captive by the al-Nusra Front.
As for Akcakale, life returned to normal after the sounds of fighting in Tel Abyad died down. According to activists, the two groups are regaining strength and new clashes in Tel Abyad are imminent.
Recent clashes along Syria's northern border are also a source of concern for the United States, which is closely following reports that Syrian Kurds are fighting hard-line Islamist groups. The US has expressed concern over "spillover violence" in a number of Syria's neighbors.
US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said at a daily press briefing on Monday that the US was uneasy about reports of Syrian Kurdish autonomy in northern Syria.
"Such a declaration is highly provocative, as it will certainly exasperate tensions between Arabs and Kurds and give excuse for extremists to exploit the situation. So we're also watching that and we're concerned about that as well," Psaki said.