President Erdo?an in driving seat in dealing with Syria turmoil

Amid uncertainty over the composition of the next government after June 7 elections, the tension along the Turkish-Syrian border has intensified to the advantage of the Syrian Kurds that grabbed the control of strategic city Tal Abyad from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). An intensified air campaign by the United States-led anti-coalition forces helped the Syrian Democratic Union Party (PYD)?s military wing, known as the People?s Protection Units (YPG), to push ISIL militants back to Rakka. 

The PYD could therefore bring together its three cantons, Jazira, Afrin and Kobane, in a bid to fortify its self-proclaimed entity in the northern Syria, a development that concerns Turkey. Ankara has openly told members of the anti-ISIL coalition that the PYD?s move aimed to change the demographic conditions of the region by pushing Arabs and Turkmens to leave the area to new incoming Kurdish population. 

Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Ar?nç announced late June 15 that Turkish officials sent letters to their counterparts to express their concerns over recent developments in the field. Turkey is not against air bombings and welcomes ISIL?s defeat but believes that the ongoing military campaign is also being used by the PYD for its own future plans. 

Although there is a lame duck government in Ankara, Turkish and foreign diplomats underline that parties are in close dialogue over the recent developments. Despite Ankara?s concerns, the anti-ISIL coalition has no plans to abandon its campaign against ISIL, as diplomats say strikes would continue in line with military necessities while, at the same time, taking care of civilians in the region. 

It?s no doubt Turkey and the U.S. are still on different pages about priorities in Syria,...