Operation ‘Olive Branch’ – A Turkish Perspective
Analiza ZBN nr 3 (22) / 2018
19 lutego 2018 r.
© 2018 Uniwersytet Jagielloński & Jan Niemiec
Launched in January 2018 by the Turkish Armed Forces, Operation ‘Olive Branch’ can be considered as the next stage of conflict between the Republic of Turkey and various Kurdish insurgent groups. Since the beginning of Syria’s civil war, the government in Ankara has been trying to prevent the emergence of an independent Kurdish state north of Aleppo, pointing to internal security issues. Currently the activities of Turkish troops in Syria have been concentrated in the Afrin Canton. At the same time, a massive campaign in Turkey against the Kurds and their allies (including Americans) has been launched with an active involvement of the leading Turkish politicians, President Erdogan being at the forefront. However, there are some indications that the Turkish intervention in Syria has been made possible only due to a tacit consent from the major powers - Russia and the United States.