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Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
CNN
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan last week launched a series of airstrikes against Kurdish militants in northern Syria, warning that ground operations would soon follow.
Air operations that began on Sunday and his warning three days later Explosion rocks Istanbul At least six people were killed and more than 80 injured a week ago. Turkish authorities have accused Kurdish separatists of causing the blast, but Kurdish groups deny the allegations.
Erdogan said the attack was “only the beginning” and that the Turkish army would “defeat the terrorists on the ground at the most opportune time.”
Earlier Wednesday, the Defense Department claimed that 471 targets had been hit and “254 terrorists neutralized” since the start of the attack, dubbed “Operation Crow Sword.” CNN cannot independently confirm casualty figures.
but erdogan pledged to invade From May to northern Syria. He had previously said that the invasion intended to create a “safe zone” 30 km (20 miles) deep. Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) is an extremist group that Turkey and the United States consider a terrorist organization.
the analyst said Erdogan failed to fulfill his vows of aggression because he failed to secure the green light from Russian President Vladimir Putin.
But on Wednesday, Russia’s senior negotiator, Alexander Lavrentyev, said: Moscow tried to persuade Turkey “Refrain from conducting full-scale ground operations.”
Erdogan’s target areas of northern Syria include the three main towns of Manbij, Tell Rifaat and Kobani, which are under the control of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
The Self-Defense Forces, supported by Washington, Fighting ISIS since 2014But its backbone is the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) militia, which Turkey sees as part of the PKK and seeks to eliminate it.
CNN asked Soner Cagaptay, director of the Washington Institute’s Turkey Studies Program, how likely it is that Turkey’s leaders will follow through on this pledge.
Turkey has been saying for months that it will launch its next invasion. Is there something different about today’s claims, or is it more serious?
Taking into account the previous Turkish invasion of northern Syria, I think something does not seem to be going so fast this time. Usually a Turkish invasion follows his 1-2 days of cross-border bombardment by artillery and drones, followed by moving troops. [there has been] number [ground] action. It means that something is missing.
What do you think of the Kremlin’s recent comments about possible intrusions? See the green light?
Now, if Turkey were to advance into northern Syria, it would normally have to get the go-ahead from the two superpowers that have a military presence in Syria. America and Russia.
But Russia does not agree. I think Russia wants more before giving the go-ahead to a full-scale Turkish invasion. What Russia wants is for the Turkish government in Ankara to engage with the Assad regime and commit to ending the war. And of course, that kind of discussion will take days, if not weeks or months. So I don’t think Putin will give the green light to a Turkish invasion until such arguments mature and come to a conclusion.
Given Turkey’s growing importance to the West during the war in Ukraine, is it likely that the West will turn a blind eye to aggression?
The United States has generally opposed Turkish aggression targeting the YPG. But the US has relied on the YPG to fight ISIS. So it is never nice for Turkey to target her YPG.
But this time things are different. [Firstly], the big strategic picture is changing.Importance of Turkey [to] The United States has changed as US policy emerges from the desert [Middle East]and focus on [Eurasian] step, or zoom out from Syria to Ukraine.
Therefore, the US view is that Turkey is of increasing strategic importance. That’s the long term shift.
There is also a tactical view in the short term [in] Washington opposed by Turkey NATO’s expansion into Northern EuropeI think the Turkish government has used its hand well by challenging Sweden’s accession.And now Washington really I don’t want to provoke TurkeyAnd I think that applies to all major NATO allies.
On Thursday, member states of the United Nations Human Rights Council passed a resolution to form a fact-finding mission to investigate human rights abuses in Iran amid months of nationwide protests.
The motion was requested by Germany and Iceland and passed after 25 countries voted in favor, 6 against and 16 abstained in a special session held in Geneva.
China attempted to remove articles making up the fact-finding mission by submitting an unexpected amendment to the resolution, but the move drew harsh criticism and collapsed after 25 countries voted against it. .
The representative of Iran said the draft was “totally biased in nature and content and does not reflect facts and reality.”
Here are the latest:
- The Iranian government on Thursday set up a national commission to investigate deaths linked to the protests that have dominated the country, a deputy foreign minister said.
- UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Executive Director Volker Turk said on Thursday that Iran was in a “genuine human rights crisis”.
- An Iranian fan carrying a football jersey with Mercer Amini’s name on it faced security guards at Iran’s match against Wales in Qatar on Friday.
- According to state news agency Tasnim, footballer Voria Ghafori was arrested on charges of “disgraceful and insulting acts against the Iranian national football team and agitation against the regime.”
Netanyahu’s Party Signs Deal With Far-Right Jewish Power Party
Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu-led Likud Party announced on Friday that it had signed a coalition agreement with the far-right Jewish Power Party led by Itamar Ben Guvir. This is the first deal between Likud and other political parties while Netanyahu is working to form a government. Ben Gvir will be the newly created Minister of National Security, and his party will hold a number of other positions.
- Background: Ben Gvir’s party, in a joint ticket with religious Zionism, made big gains in the November elections and helped secure Netanyahu’s path to victory (the two parties have since split) . Ben Gvir had been demanding the post of Minister of Public Security for some time, claiming Israel had lost control in the face of a wave of Palestinian attacks targeting Israelis. He appeared at the site of the Jerusalem bombing on Wednesday and said, “We will support soldiers and police, return to targeted killings (of Palestinian extremists), govern the State of Israel, deter terrorism, I have to charge you for it.”
- Important reasons: In this portfolio, Ben Guvir, who was convicted of anti-Arab racism and supporting terrorism, was in charge of the police, even though he himself had trouble with the law. He also advocated a more tolerant field policy for police and soldiers to use against stone-throwing and incendiary-throwing mobs. I want new laws.
MeIndia and Gulf states resume free trade talks including food, energy security
India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have agreed to resume negotiations on a free trade agreement, Indian Trade Minister Piyush Goyal said on Thursday, according to Reuters.
- Background: These negotiations are the third attempt by India and the GCC to reach a trade agreement, following negotiations held in 2006 and 2008. The GCC is a coalition of six Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). , Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain.
- Important reasons: According to Goyal, the GCC is India’s largest trading partner, with bilateral goods trade reaching $154 billion and services trade reaching $14 billion in 2021-22. The GCC accounts for nearly 35% of India’s oil imports and 70% of its gas imports, he said, adding that bilateral talks would be held on trade mechanisms involving the rupee and GCC currencies. rice field.
Cuban president meets with Erdogan during rare visit to Turkey
Cuban President Miguel Diaz Canel met with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday during a rare official visit to Turkey, Reuters reported. The two held bilateral talks and signed cooperation agreements in several areas, and the Cuban leader emphasized his intention to further improve relations with Turkey on energy, tourism and education.
- Background: This is the first visit to Turkey by a Cuban leader in 27 years, according to Turkish media. Diaz-Canel recently launched an international tour that included Russia, Turkey, Algeria and China, seeking economic support and cooperation in the energy sector.
- why it matters: The communist country faces severe energy shortages and blackouts that last for hours, and seeks to strengthen its power grid with international aid. Cuba has been under US sanctions since 1962, after Castro’s communist revolution.
The Football Association of Wales (FAW) said FIFA, the sport’s global governing body, told the federation on Thursday it would allow rainbow flags and hats at the FIFA World Cup stadiums in Qatar.
a Position The FAW’s official Twitter account said, “In response to FAW, FIFA will allow fans wearing rainbow wall bucket hats and rainbow flags to enter the stadium for @Cymru’s match against Iran on Friday. All World Cup venues have been contacted and instructed to follow the agreed rules and regulations.
“FAW urges FIFA to live up to their message that everyone is welcome in Qatar during the World Cup and continue to highlight further human rights issues. We continue to believe that we are meant to be.”
read more:
- Lionel Messi faces defeat as Saudi fans dominate Doha after World Cup turmoil
- German players cover their mouths in protest against FIFA’s crackdown on free speech with a line of ‘OneLove’ armbands
- Iran beat 10-man Wales to keep World Cup hopes alive
Journalist Zeid Benjamin tweeted a video Thursday of Qatar’s Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani jokingly asking Saudi Arabia’s Sports Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal about his sleep the night before. did. “I’m waiting for someone to wake me up,” the minister previously said in an interview with CNN’s Becky Anderson after his home country’s stunning victory over Argentina on Tuesday.
Watch the exchange between Sheikh Tamim and the Saudi minister here.
Read our interview with Becky Anderson here.