Turkey Continues To Prepare To Attack The Syrian Kurdish Enclave At Afrim

BBC: Turkey targets Kurds in Afrin: The short, medium and long story

Turkey says it is getting ready to launch a massive assault on Kurdish forces on the other side of the border with Syria - potentially putting it in direct conflict with its Nato ally, the United States.

This could be a significant new development in the Syrian civil war, which is now almost seven years old. We've boiled down why it matters.

You can choose to read the short, medium or long story below, either by themselves or one after the other.

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WNU Editor: The U.S. response to Turkey's threats against its only real ally in Syria has been contradictory .... Watch The State Department Respond As US Ally Turkey Attacks US-Backed Forces In Syria (Zero Hedge). In a sign that the Syrian Kurds are becoming desperate as they face an imminent attack from Turkey, they are now appealing to the UN .... Syrian Kurds Appeal to UN as Turkey Prepares to Attack (VOA).

Turkey, Russia, Syria, And Iran Condemn U.S. Plans To Establish A 30,000 Kurdish Military Force In Syria

(Click on Image to Enlarge)

Reuters: Turkey, Russia, Syria, and Iran all bash 'terror army' of US-backed kurds

* Iran, Turkey, Syria, and Russia have all come out against the US's announced plan to back a force of 30,000 mainly Kurdish fighters to operate along Syria's border with Turkey and Iran.
* Syria's president desribed the force as a "terror army," in keeping with a long tradition of calling all who oppose him of being terrorists.
* Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qasemi urged the US to leave Syria immediately.

LONDON (Reuters) - Iran said on Tuesday a new U.S.-backed, 30,000-strong force inside Syria would "fan the flames of war", echoing the vehement response of Syria, Turkey and Russia to the plan.

On Sunday, the U.S.-led coalition said it was working with its Syrian militia allies, the mainly Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), to set up a force that would operate along the borders with Turkey and Iraq, as well as within Syria.

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More News On Turkey, Russia, Syria, And Iran Condemning U.S. Plans To Establish A 30,000 Kurdish Military Force In Syria

Iran adds to criticism of US-trained Kurdish force in Syria -- ABC News/AP
Iran Says Trump Fanning 'Flames of War' With New Syria Force -- Newsweek
Erdogan: we will 'strangle' US-backed force in Syria "before it's even born" -- Reuters
Syria war: Turkey denounces US 'terror army' plan for border -- BBC
Turkish President Steps Up Threats on US-backed Militia in Syria -- Voice of America
Syria denounces US-led coalition 'border force' plan -- Indian Express/AFP
Russia's top diplomat says US not interested in keeping Syria's territorial integrity -- TASS

U.S.-Led Coalition Helps Build New Syrian Force

A Kurdish fighter from the People's Protection Units (YPG) gestures at a convoy of U.S military vehicles driving in the town of Darbasiya next to the Turkish border, Syria, on April 28, 2017

Reuters: U.S.-led coalition helps build new Syrian force, angering Turkey

BEIRUT/ISTANBUL (Reuters) - The U.S.-led coalition is working with its Syrian militia allies to set up a new border force of 30,000 personnel, the coalition said on Sunday, a move that has added to Turkish anger over U.S. support for Kurdish-dominated forces in Syria.

A senior Turkish official told Reuters the U.S. training of the new “Border Security Force” is the reason that the U.S. charge d‘affaires was summoned in Ankara on Wednesday. The official did not elaborate.

The force, whose inaugural class is currently being trained, will be deployed at the borders of the area controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) - an alliance of militias in northern and eastern Syria dominated by the Kurdish YPG.

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Update #1: US-led coalition to form 30,000-strong SDF border army (Daily Sabah)
Update #2: US-Led Coalition Goes Ahead With Training New Border Force in Syria - Reports (Sputnik)

WNU Editor: Such a militia .... backed by U.S. weapons, training, and (probably) fire-power .... will be a formidable force. I guess this also explains Turkish President Erdogan's threats this morning .... Turkish President Erdogan Vows To Destroy The Kurdish Enclave In Northwest Syria. I am also sure that Syrian President Assad is not amused having this force present in the country.