Turkey’s Syrian Gamble: Enter the Kurds
The car bomb explosion that rocked the southern Turkish city of Gaziantep on August 20, killing nine people including three children, has sharpened debate as to whether Turkey’s support for Syrian rebels is boomeranging in the form of greater separatist violence at home. After protracted efforts to persuade Assad along the path of reform, Turkey is now firmly committed to regime change in Syria. Critics of Turkish policy, including the main opposition Republican People’s Party, say the Turkish approach has backfired and some are calling for Turkey’s foreign minister to resign. Syrian bombing raids on towns near the Turkish border have strained Turkey’s resolve and credibility. Meanwhile Kurdish PKK separatists, perhaps emboldened by other Kurdish action in the region, have escalated attacks. If this continues, Turkey might feel compelled to attack Syria.