Syrian Militias Enter Afrin, Dealing a Setback to Turkey<br />The entry into Afrin of forces loyal to Mr. Assad — the result of a deal between the Syrian government<br />and Kurdish militias, with the backing of Iran and Russia — has harmed Turkey’s ambitions in Syria.<br />22, 2018<br />ISTANBUL — Militias loyal to the Syrian government swept into the northwestern enclave of Afrin on Thursday in support of Kurdish militias, reclaiming the territory and stealing a march on Turkish forces<br />that have been battling toward the city for nearly a month.<br />there, no one can stop us." Turkey’s defense minister, Nurettin Canikli, said on Thursday<br />that he doubted that the pro-Syrian government militias advancing to Afrin were capable of subduing the Kurdish militias, which is Turkey’s goal.<br />Turkey began its incursion into Afrin a month ago, saying it wanted to clear the enclave of Kurdish militias, which it says are<br />affiliated with Mr. Ocalan’s Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or P.K.K., which has long waged a separatist insurgency in Turkey.<br />His aim has been to forge a buffer zone along Turkey’s border<br />that would be cleared of Kurdish militants and that could be occupied by Syrian Sunni forces who have been in the forefront of the opposition to Mr. Assad.<br />Turkey said that It limits Turkish strategic options.
