In recent days we have witnessed an unprecedented surge of aggression by Iran, which has carried out missile attacks on the Kurdish region in northern Iraq, on the Israeli intelligence centre based there, on targets in Syria that they claim are linked to ISIS and most recently in the Baluchistan region of Pakistan.
The Iranian missile attacks in Northern Iraq-Syria-Pakistan-Targets
The first attack targeted an Israeli target outside the country , while the other two attacks against ISIS were in retaliation against the recent bombing by that terrorist organization at the memorial of General Suleymani in Iran, resulting in dozens of dead Iranian civilians.
The missile attack on the Kurdish region of northern Iraq resulted in the recall of the Iraqi Ambassador from Tehran and a sharp increase in tension between Iraq and Iran.
The Iran-Turkey-Houthi relationship
In a recent article we had referred to the underground financing and arming route of the Houthi rebels by Iran and the important role of Erdogan-Fidan , demonstrating the dysfunctional Iran-Turkey relations, while it is known that Turkey-Iran's positions are identical with regard to Israel, which they consider a common enemy, and the PKK-PJAK (Iranian branch of the PKK), against which they had previously conducted separate cross-border operations in the same period of time with the aim of eliminating them from Northern Iraq.
It should be noted that Turkey does not participate in the Allied naval force operating against the Houthis - unlike Greece, which does - to protect freedom of navigation in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.
Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan is "smoothing the ground" for a large-scale operation against the PKK in the north of Turkey. Iraq
Our view is that Iran's missile attack in Northern Iraq has "given new fodder" to the Turks to carry out a new large-scale offensive aimed at eliminating the PKK, under the pretext that the area in question is out of the control of the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG).
This is evidenced by the statement of Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who according to Turkish government media said that "Turkey will not leave any space for the separatist terrorist group to feel safe along its borders or elsewhere", noting:
"Turkey will not withdraw from taking additional measures if one of the ruling parties in the Kurdish region of northern Iraq does not change its stance of support for the PKK terrorists, the Turkish foreign minister said on Tuesday.
"We will not hesitate to take further measures if the PUK does not change its stance of support for the PKK despite our sanctions against Suleymaniya in Iraq," Hakan Fidan said, speaking of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) party, the smallest partner in the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG).
Addressing the Turkish parliament, Fidan said the consultation process with the Iraqi authorities was continuing, with major efforts being made to help the evolving understanding of PKK terrorists.
He reiterated that Turkey will not leave the separatist terrorist group anywhere to feel safe along its borders or elsewhere.
PKK terrorists often hide in northern Iraq to plan cross-border attacks in Turkey.
The three (3) military operations ordered by Erdogan
Fidan's statements came in the wake of new PKK attacks in recent days that claimed the lives of 21 Turkish soldiers and followed fierce Turkish attacks on terrorist targets in northern Iraq and Syria.
Erdogan specifically ordered three (3) operations after the incident that was:
1.Extensive "anti-terrorist" operation by the Ministry of Interior with Military Police-Special Police Forces and militias operating in the Turkish border province of Shirnak, with the aim of awakening and eliminating PKK rebels operating in this rugged mountainous area within the country.
2. Advancing the Turkish army to positions within the northern part of the PKK. 2. Iraq in the direction of Suleymaniya, which leads to the Kandil mountain range, a stronghold of the PKK.
The aim is for the TEDs to prohibit land communication between the PKK operating in Iraq and the Kurds of the YPG in Syria, driving a "wedge" and occupying the territory between the Syrian and Iraqi borders, a few kilometers south of Turkey's tri-border with these countries.
At the same time, they want to completely cut off the PKK's rebel stronghold, the Kandil mountain range, with the rest of northern Iraq, isolating it, so that they can then destroy the terrorist organization at its base.
3. Extensive bombing with fighter jets and drones of PKK hideout-cave positions, in order to weaken its capabilities and eliminate its personnel.
Previous Turkish operations against the PKK
It will be recalled that Turkey launched Operation Claw-Lock in April 2022, targeting PKK terrorist group hideouts in the Metina, Zap and Avasin-Basyan regions of Iraq in the north of Iraq near the Turkish border.
It was preceded by operations "Claw-Tiger" and "Claw-Eagle" launched in 2020 to root out terrorists hiding in northern Iraq and planning cross-border attacks in Turkey.
In its campaign of terror against Turkey for more than 35 years, the PKK - listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US, the UK and the EU - has been responsible for the deaths of more than 40,000 people, including women, children and infants. The YPG is the Syrian branch of the terrorist PKK.No, Erdogan must not step foot in the White House again
Rubin: "Erdogan must not enter the White House again"
Rabid against Turkey meanwhile appears once again the world-renowned American analyst Michael Rubin, who in an article in International Media analyses the reasons why Erdogan should be unconcerned in Washington, pointing out among others:
Erdogan is a problematic partner at best, playing Washington and Moscow for his own gain by selling drones to Ukraine while helping Russia evade sanctions to fund its war effort.
He instigated, if not directed, Azerbaijan's ethnic cleansing of the indigenous Armenian Christian community of Nagorno-Karabakh and used the distraction of the Israel-Hamas war to pulverize the Kurdish political and economic infrastructure in Syria.
Erdogan's embrace of Hamas should surprise no one. He openly supported the group for nearly 20 years, supplied al-Qaeda branches in Syria and Libya, and provided logistical support to the Islamic State.
High on Blinken's agenda during his visit to Ankara was to win Erdogan's promise that Turkey would finally bless Sweden's accession to NATO. Diplomatic sources say Blinken brought possible gifts, up to and including a visit by the Turkish strongman to the White House.
The US-NATO-Sweden attitude to take towards Erdogan
Turkey, however, is using F-16s to bolster its irredentist claims, not to improve NATO security. Blinken may convince himself that Erdogan is reasonable and honest, but history shows otherwise.
Rewarding Turkey for actions that responsible governments take because it is the right thing to do only encourages blackmail.
The best strategy going forward would be not to offer new stimulus packages that Erdogan will put forward as he asks for more, but rather to understand that Erdogan is the problem, not the solution.
He deserves a whip, not a carrot, and should be ignored like the pariah he is.
Sweden waited almost 75 years to join NATO.
NATO's future security dictates that it should wait a little longer until the United States, Europe and NATO can better formulate a policy to isolate Turkey."
The above verifies our earlier article that Turkey has one foot out of NATO, thanks to Erdogan's antics.
