Ahmed Bnavi
The conflict in Syria is escalating due to a combination of internal weakness, regional rivalries, and international disengagement. Turkey is at the center of the latest developments, using the turmoil to advance its strategic goals. Below is a detailed explanation of the situation:
•Turkey’s Role:
Turkey is taking advantage of a vulnerable Syrian government under President Bashar al-Assad. Assad’s forces are overstretched and lack the support they once received from key allies like Iran and Hezbollah. These allies are now preoccupied with other regional conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon, and Yemen, leaving Syria exposed. Turkey has seized this moment of distraction and weakness to increase its influence and destabilize the region further.
•Terrorist Activity:
Turkey is allegedly supporting groups such as Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (formerly Al-Nusra Front) in northern Syria. These groups, often labeled as terrorist organizations, are advancing into areas like Halab (Aleppo), undermining Assad’s control and contributing to chaos. By backing such groups, Turkey can destabilize the region further while shifting the balance of power in its favor.
•Strategic Goals:
Turkey’s broader objective appears to be influencing U.S. policy on Syria. By creating chaos and portraying Syria as an intractable problem, Turkey aims to convince a potential future U.S. administration—especially if led by Donald Trump—that maintaining a U.S. presence in Syria is unnecessary. Turkey would then propose taking control of the Syrian file, claiming it can stabilize the region. This strategy aligns with Turkey’s ambitions to expand its regional influence while reducing Kurdish power.
•Kurdish Target:
Another critical aspect of Turkey’s involvement is its ongoing campaign against Kurdish forces in northern Syria. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a U.S. ally in the fight against ISIS, are a primary target for Turkey, which views them as a threat to its national security. Weakening the Kurds and preventing them from establishing autonomous control in northern Syria is a key Turkish objective.
Conclusion
Turkey’s actions in Syria reflect a calculated strategy to reshape the conflict for its own benefit. By exploiting the Syrian government’s weaknesses and the distraction of its allies, Turkey is positioning itself as an indispensable power in the region. At the same time, it is using the chaos to justify its claims that the U.S. should withdraw from Syria, allowing Turkey to take the lead. This approach not only destabilizes the region but also risks further humanitarian and political crises.
