RBSS
The Turkish presidents, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, stated after the (Shield of the Euphrates) controlled over Jarabulus that his country is ready to intervene with the US against ISIS and expel it from its stronghold Raqqa. This was in the G20 summit in China, Erdoğan added:”Turkey does not mind doing a combined operation of this kind, and in such cases the military officials from both countries have to decide together what is needed to achieve this goal, and what can be done regarding the combined operation.”
Earlier, the Turkish army along with the Free Syrian Army troops launched a military campaign, called (The Shield of Euphrates), in Jarabulus northern Syria in the 24th of August. The main goal of this campaign is targeting the terrorist group (ISIS) and every other terrorist group referring to Syrian Democratic forces, Turkey is trying to establish a buffer zone in northern Syria to separate the areas controlled by the Kurdish forces.
There is no doubt that the Turkish intervention in northern Syria and there statements about Raqqa have increased the complicity of the Syrian scene especially after the failed coup in Turkey in 15 of July when Ankara accused the US of being behind this attempt and demanded the US administration to hand Gulen over. The US administration wanted to appease Turkey, so the US vice president Joe Biden visited Turkey last month and in the same day the Turkish military campaign has started in Jarabulus. Joe Biden stated that the Kurdish forces should withdraw to the east of Euphrates.
Separately, Ankara managed to improve its relations with Moscow after the Turkish president visit to Russia in 9th of August, after this visit Turkey seemed to have a green light to advance in northern Syria.
When the Turkish army controlled over Jarabulus, the weakness of the Syrian Democratic Forces especially after their long term battle in Manbij along with their violations in the areas they control. Turkey is planning to use the FSA as a partner in fighting the terrorist group instead of the Syrian Democratic Forces which will be in a critical situation because it will be besieged from the North by the Turkish army, from the East by Iraqi Kurdistan and from the west and the South by the Free Syrian Army who would be in both Raqqa and Azaz.
The Syrian Democratic forces did not realize the different in strength between them and Turkey and the US administration considers them as a tool not a partner.
Raqqa battle would not be easy as it is the capital of the terrorist group, and it is more likely that Turkey will use their special forces but the spearhead in this battle will be the Free Syrian Army.
Two months before the US election, all what Obama wants is achieving a field advance against ISIS in Raqqa and Mosul to be added to his records and to contribute significantly in the victory of the Democratic candidate, Hilary Clinton.
