Ar Raqqah
Ankara will not take part in operations to liberate the Syrian from Raqqa militants of the terrorist group “Islamic state” (IG, is prohibited in Russia). This was stated by President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said on Thursday, may 18, Reuters.
According to the head of the state, the decision was made due to the fact that the onset can join the fighters of the Kurdish “forces of the people’s protection units” (YPG). While Erdogan reiterated Turkey’s readiness to implement large-scale campaigns, such as “Shield of the Euphrates”.
May 9, the us administration approved the delivery of heavy weapons to the Syrian Kurds for the liberation of Raqqa from ISIS militants. A complete list of supplies was not disclosed, but presumably will be transferred to 120-millimeter mortars, machine guns, and light armored vehicles. It is known that we are not talking about artillery and anti-aircraft missiles.
In Washington explained that this decision will make it possible to capture the stronghold of militants in Syria. The US believes the Kurds are the most effective fighting partner in the fight against ISIS in the North and East Arab Republic. Supply of heavy arms to oppose Ankara, which, in turn, calls Kurdish terrorist enterprises.
Kurdish “people’s self-defense Force” composed of armed Syrian opposition with the support of the U.S. air force involved in the operation to liberate Raqqa. This Syrian city in 2014 was proclaimed capital of ISIS.
The operation “Shield of the Euphrates” was held by Turkish armed forces on the territory of Syria from August 2016 to March 2017. The main goal of the mission — the elimination of the adjacent territories of the militants and the liberation of the occupied settlements. Also before the military was tasked to oust from the border areas of the Kurdish militias and the creation in these territories of a security zone.