Within the past 24 hours, Turkey has sent in several troops along with armored vehicles and heavy artillery to the Syrian towns of Azaz and Marea as reported by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
According to the Observatory, the deployment is part of preparations “to carry out attacks” on the Kurdish forces.
The two towns, which are currently controlled by Turkey-backed Syrian opposition fighters, are close to the border of the Kurdish western-most canton of Afrin.
On Wednesday, Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency stated that the additional military was sent in to “reinforce” units already stationed in the area.
The YPG, who are the dominant force within the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), have clashed with the Turkish-backed opposition fighters in the past. In March, the SDF handed control of a group of villages west of Manbij over to Syrian regime forces as per an agreement brokered by Russia after Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army forces clashed with the SDF in the area.
As the clashes took place, the US showed explicit support for their Kurdish allies, deploying special forces flying American flags to the Manbij area to reassure their allies and “deter aggression.”
Ankara alleges that the YPG is an offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), a named terrorist organization in Turkey, Europe, and the US. YPG denies any organizational connection with the PKK.
The Turkish leadership is opposed to US support for the YPG and the SDF, particularly in the offensive against ISIS on Raqqa.
Syrian opposition forces including the Free Syrian Army have accused the Kurdish fighters of collaborating with pro-government forces.
