Turkey May Expand Military Presence in Syria and Iraq

Turkey may expand the scope of air operations in northern Syria targeting the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and its local wing, the People’s Defense Units (SDF). It also plans to extend the areas of responsibility for its military bases located in Syria and Iraq, reports Hürriyet newspaper, citing government sources.

According to the publication, air operations in Syria will be carried out through strike drones. The Turkish Air Force will operate similarly in northern Iraq, utilizing combat aircraft if necessary. Turkey will act following the statement of Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on October 4, indicating that all PKK infrastructure and facilities in Syria and Iraq have now become legitimate targets after the terrorist attack at the Ministry of Internal Affairs headquarters in Ankara on October 1.

Air operations in northern Syria will become a "daily" occurrence, the Turkish newspaper notes.

According to Hurriyet, Ankara has prepared plans to conduct operations in the adjacent areas based on various scenarios. A priority is the complete elimination of terrorists from the borders of Syria and Iraq. A primary target in this direction is the Zap region in northern Iraq, where the PKK has suffered significant losses, and an operation is being prepared in the Tel Rifaat area of northern Syria, the newspaper mentions.

According to Hurriyet, since October 1, the Turkish army has destroyed 58 PKK facilities and killed 37 militants in Syria and Iraq, but this number may rise following an airstrike in northern Syria on the evening of October 5.

The Turkish authorities classify the PKK and SDF as terrorist organizations and the main threat to national security. The Turkish military regularly conducts operations against Kurdish militants in northern Syria and Iraq, maintaining a large presence at the border.