International strategic relations and armed conflicts expert Gérard Chaliand wrote an analysis in the French Le Figaro newspaper and stated that the groups the Turkish state presents as the FSA are no other than ISIS and other groups with similar ideology

The article published in Le Figaro by Gérard Chaliand, who had a book come out in 2015 titled “The Kurdish issue in the ISIS Era”, was titled “The Battle of Afrin: The Westerners’ Betrayal of Kurds”.

Chaliand analyzed the Turkish invasion attacks that have continued since January 20 and wrote that the attack started after Russian forces negotiated with Turkey and withdrew, and the US didn’t oppose the attack.

Chaliand said the following on the gangs in alliance with Turkey: “Turkey’s Syrian allied forces are no other than jihadists. They are either Islamic State (ISIS), or other organizations that have similar ideologies. (...) The Turkish military intervention is called the “Olive Branch”. It must be nice to be a dictator. The exterior is matched with a dark humor.”

Chaliand added that the Kurds on the other hand constitute a military and political movement, and wrote about the disciplined, highly motivated fight against ISIS since Kobanê.

He said the vague relationship and temporary alliances between Turkey and Russia are not new, and that this style of relationship had been employed previously in the opening of the Jarablus gate.

According to Chaliand, this time Russian forces are focused on withdrawing from the Afrin Canton and Turkey has given up on encouraging the fall of the Damascus Regime.

Chaliand also mentioned the Turkish threats against Manbij and stated that the US won’t intervene with an attack on Manbij. According to Chaliand, Trump’s concerns are focused on other priorities: “When their interests are not directly threatened, when they don’t intend to intervene, the US says things are unacceptable, but accepts them, and is satisfied with only condemning aggressive behavior.”

THE STANCE OF THE DEMOCRATIC PUBLIC AND THE MEDIA IS IMPORTANT

Chaliand also stated that as usual, Europe’s stance goes no further than issuing an eulogy after the dead and added: “This reminds us of the importance of public opinion and the media in democratic countries, of course if they do their jobs well.”

Chaliand mentioned the developments after the Saddam regime’s attacks against Southern Kurdistan, but thinks the same won’t happen in Afrin.

Chaliand explained that as: “Turkey is a NATO member, the US has other priorities, Russia’s interests lie with the continuation of the Damascus regime before the Afrin Canton.”