Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD)

The U.N. Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura has warned that the planned resumption of troubled peace talks on Feb. 25 was not realistic, a Swedish newspaper reported Feb. 19, one week after the countries supporting a solution in Syria had reached a "cessation of hostilities." 

At least 500 rebels on Feb. 17 crossed the Turkish border heading for the Syrian town of Azaz in northern Aleppo province, a monitor said, where opposition forces have suffered setbacks at the hands of the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) forces.

The Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) have renamed the Menagh air base in northern Syria after the imprisoned leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) Abdullah Öcalan, British newspaper The Times reported on Feb. 18. 

Turkey wants the establishment of a secure humanitarian aid strip 10 kilometers deep into the Syrian side of its border, including the town of Azaz, in order to prevent "attempts to change the demographic structure" of the area, Deputy Prime Minister Yalç?n Akdo?an stated on Feb. 17. 

The former leader of Turkey's main opposition party has lent support to the government's shelling of Kurdish and Syrian positions in northern Syria, while underlining the "Sunni" identity of the rebel stronghold of Aleppo and arguing that the city should not be handed over to "Shiite/Nusayri" forces.

Unless Turkey is directly attacked by Syrian forces, it is not very likely that the Turkish army will be deployed in Syria.

The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) has demanded that the government immediately brief parliament on the Turkish army's recent shelling of the military wing of the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) in northern Syria.

Ankara has protested a statement by Washington classifying Turkey along with the "terrorist organization" Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) in northern Syria, while also warning the Syrian Kurdish militia of a "severe response" if they advance toward Azaz. 

Turkish officials have confirmed that its armed forces shelled positions of the military wing of the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) in northern Syria for a third straight day on Feb. 15, saying the move was retaliation against the PYD's military wing, the People's Protection Units (YPG).

Russia is deliberately using the threat of a possible world war in order to dictate its policy in Syria, according to Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu.