Is the lack of international condemnation regarding Turkey’s actions in North and East Syria a result of strategic interests at play?

Turkey continues in conducting airstrikes on North and East Syria (NES) areas, deliberately targeting civilians and infrastructure, which violating international law. Despite these actions being considered as war crimes, there is a notable lack of international condemnation, this lack of global censure serves as an encouragement for Turkey to persist in its attacks and further violations.

Experts and observers in Syrian affairs agree that the issue of international silence can be attributed to two primary factors, the first is the preoccupation with the Gaze, Israel war, the second is the Ukrainian war, including the interests that unite Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and other countries, such as the United States, which is preoccupied with the upcoming presidential elections.

The calculations of Countries and the necessity for a Kurdish effort

The Iraqi academic and political analyst, Dr. Tayseer Abdul-Jabbar Al-Alusi, told Target Media Platform that there are many negative international attitudes towards the Turkish assaults on NES, as some countries are preoccupied with their internal issues and disputes, such as the USA, which is currently focused on presidential elections that will be held at the end of this year.

Abdul-Jabbar Al-Alusi added that this international silence is also due to the priorities of the issues that the international community is preoccupied with: as the European Union is preoccupied with the war in Ukraine as well providing the necessary support to it. Further more, there are strategic projects related to the countries of the Middle East, in addition to the complexities of relations with countries such as Iran and Turkey.

He stressed that what creates some stepping down the status of the Kurdish issue or the negative attitude towards it is primarily the nature of the circumstances in the region, and the complexity of conflicts in it. The stance of countries being hostage to tactical solutions that serve only urgent and short-term interests, without a strategic approach that serves the interests of the peoples region, Abdul-Jabbar Al-Alusi emphasized that in the end the Kurdish struggle will win. He also comfirmed that this situation requires action by Kurdish actors to communicate with the international community, and influential countries, to push the Kurdish issue at the forefront as well to draw attention to it. Meanwhile, there is a need to shed light on the challenges faced by the Kurdish communities in the four parts of Kurdistan, and clarify the ongoing situations they are experiencing.

Taking advantage of the preoccupation with both the Gaza and Ukraine wars

Hani al-Jamal, a researcher in regional and international affairs, stated Target Media Platform that the Turkish state always relies on exploiting the current conditions and conflicts in the region due to the disputes among the countries and their focus on two major hotspots, namely the Russian-Ukrainian war on one side and the conflict in Gaza on the other.

Al-Jamal added that the world’s disputes have now become centred around these factors. Therefore, the Turkish government is taking steps to address its assaults on the Kurdish people, whether in Syria or Iraq. what is notable in these airstrikes carried out by the Turkish forces is their focus on economic objectives, especially following the announcement of the Social Contract in the Autonomous Administration areas. It seems as if Turkey aims to undermine it. He said that despite the good relations between the SDF, and the American administration, especially in combating terrorism. Washington is mainly preoccupied with the war in Gaza and its plans to formulate a new Middle East, paradoxically, this aligns with Turkey’s aspirations in the region. thus, the region is going through difficult circumstances that the Turkish state is capitalizing on to carry out strikes on NES as well as Iraq.

Al-Jamal explained that while it is true that America supports the SDF, the U.S. is currently apprehensive about any confrontation with Ankara amid Turkey’s airstrikes. Additionally, there is a concern that Turkey might draw closer to Iran or Russia, leading to a potential loss of coordination in an area that is famous for its security loose in Syrian and Iraqi territories.

The researcher expressed his concern that the American silence towards the strikes on the Kurds is a back channel for consensus between America and Iran, by turning a blind eye to what is happening to the Kurds and thwarting the project of autonomy or federalism in NES, especially since there are many common files and interests between Tehran and Washington.

The current time and Erdogan’s opportunity

Dr. Mohammad Al-Yamani, an expert in international relations, said that the Turkish president is using the Gaza war file in order to implement some of the goals that he was planning after the last Turkish elections, he added that Erdogan does not and will not leave the Middle East, especially Libya and Syria, to be accurate the regions of NES.

Al-Yamani also stated, that Erdogan has ambitions in Syria’s wealth and believes that the US is benefiting greatly from it. Therefore he wants to take a part in this wealth. Here, we can talk about the language of interests between Turkey and other countries, as well the alignments where taking place in many countries files.

He pointed out that the Turkish president has a clear agenda, takes advantage of the current time to implement his plans, and benefits from the international media’s preoccupation with the war in the Gaza Strip, as there are many serious crises taking place in the region, but unfortunately the concentration is all about the situation in Palestine, therefore this is great opportunity for the Turkish state to move.

The Turkish strikes that targeted NES on December 25th, where killed and injured civilians, affected factories for the production of foodstuffs, as well as targeted infrastructure facilities such as agricultural materials, medical center, gas stations, security and commercial centres, simultaneously with attacks by Turkish-backed factions on the NES.

The Turkish strikes on NES, December 25th resulted in casualties and injuries among civilians. The attacks also impacted food production facilities, targeting factories and infrastructure, including agricultural resources, medical centers, gas stations, security and commercial centers. Simultaneously, there were attacks by Turkish-backed factions on NES.