Erdogan warns of new attack on Syrian Kurds — just ahead of US election

Gloves off? Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned that he may be ready to send troops into northeastern Syria again against Kurdish groups that he considers linked to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which Turkey has designated as a terrorist group.

“If the terrorists here are not cleared as we were promised, we have the legitimate right to mobilize once again," he said today, referring to the Turkish invasion and subsequent occupation of parts of northeast Syria in October 2018.

Erdogan said on Oct. 24, “A new terrorist formation near the Iraqi border in Syria have been accelerated … I would like to say this without beating around the bush: Turkey will never allow the establishment of a terror state right beside its borders.” (More on the Iraq angle below.)

Coincides with US vote. A remobilization into Syria may be calculated with an eye on the US presidential election. US President Donald Trump greenlit the previous Turkish assault on Syria after speaking with Erdogan; their relationship is direct and friendly. Former US Vice President Joe Biden might adopt a frostier posture if he wins the election on Nov. 3, as we reported last week.