The Turkish state has been on a busy schedule of meetings with Russia and Iran for the invasion of Efrîn and Shehba. Turkey is expected to attack the rural areas of Efrîn and the regime is planning to take positions in Efrîn, but if this doesn’t happen, they will refer to the UN Security Council Resolution No.2254 and declare Efrîn a “no-conflict zone”. 

With his anti-Kurdish stance, Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan, planning an invasion operation on the Efrîn Canton and the Shehba region in Rojava/Northern Syria, is reported to have started negotiations with the Assad regime through Iran and Russia. A source from Damascus spoke to the ANF on the plans of the Turkish state and said: “After the Raqqa operation, the interests of Syria, Russia, Iran and Turkey will coincide up to a certain extent.” 

DIRTY PLANS AGAINST THE KURDS

With his comments “Using all resources, the Republic of Turkey will never allow a state to be formed in Northern Syria,” Erdoğan signalled the attack plan on Efrîn and Shehba. A source who wishes to remain anonymous spoke to the ANF and stated that the Turkish state is negotiating through Russia and Iran to invade Efrîn.

ATTACK FROM TWO SIDES

The source said Turkey’s invasion operation has been relayed to the regime by Russia and Iran and that, according to the plan, “Turkey will use their allied gangs to attack the eastern part of Efrîn, Shehba, the Minix base and Til Rifat with the military dispatching they have made to the areas they invaded, and gangs in Idlib will attack Efrîn from the south.” And the Turkish forces are reportedly going to keep the area under constant fire.

PLAN TO FORCE EFRÎN’S SURRENDER TO THE REGIME

The source said Turkey will attempt to trap YPG/YPJ forces in Efrîn, and in the second phase of the plan, “the Regime and Russian forces will push to have forces in central Efrîn.” That way, Efrîn will be surrendered to the regime that Erdoğan screamingly dubs “Murderer Assad” for years.

ATTEMPT TO BASE IT ON UN RESOLUTION NO.2254

The source also talked about a second plan, in case the regime forces fail to enter the city: “In such a case, they are planning on including Efrîn in the ‘no-conflict zones’ in the Astana talks to be held in July with Turkey, Iran and Russia as guaranteers. They will refer to UN Security Council Resolution No.2254 and will try to alleviate international pressure.”

WHAT DOES THE UN RESOLUTION SAY?

The United Nations Security Council Resolution No.2254 was accepted on December 2015 unanimously and called for an urgent ceasefire and a political solution in Syria. Russia, Turkey and Iran base the Astana talks, which they have held 4 times up to date, on this resolution. In the fourth meeting held in May, they agreed on 6 to 8 areas to be ‘no-conflict zones’ in Syria. One of these  ‘no-conflict’ zones is Idlîb.

GANGS UP FOR NEGOTIATIONS AGAIN

The source had informed us of the anti-Kurdish talks between Iran and Turkey in Algeria in April 2016 as well at the time, and now they state that Turkey has “promised to change the anti-Assad stance and promised support” for the abolition of the gang organizations in Idlîb as part of the new plan.

LIKE THE BAB-ALEPPO NEGOTIATIONS

Erdoğan had met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg on August 9 after the Russian jet was downed by Turkey, and they had agreed to evacuate Aleppo in return for the operation titled “Euphrates Shield”. Putin later admitted to these negotiations and called them “a Bab for Aleppo”.

DOUBTS IN THE PLAN

Efrîn has a population of 1.5 million, 200.000 of whom are refugees. There are claims that in the attacks on Efrîn, the people will be made to migrate to Aleppo. The talks have been held with Russia mainly, said our source, and added: “The biggest doubt is that with Efrîn’s ten thousands-strong defense forces, the war will spread to a larger area, and what the US will think of this plan that aims to void the Raqqa operation as well.”