It appears that the conflict in Syria is about to get even more FUBAR, if that was even possible.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has renewed a pledge to carry out a cross-border military operation into northeastern Syria to dislodge Kurdish fighters close to its border. In a speech on Sunday, Erdogan said Russia and the United States have been informed of the planned operation, but did not say when the offensive would begin.

Some fighting has broken out on the border between the Turks and the SDF.

One obvious problem is that we have hundreds of troops that will be in direct danger.



U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on Tuesday any Turkish operation into northern Syria would be “unacceptable” and the United States would prevent unilateral incursions, as tensions between Washington and Ankara simmer.

...“Clearly we believe any unilateral action by them (Turkey) would be unacceptable,” Esper told reporters traveling with him to Japan. “What we’re going to do is prevent unilateral incursions that would upset, again, these mutual interests... the United States, Turkey and the SDF share with regard to northern Syria,” Esper said.

Fighting between NATO allies is almost, but not totally, unprecedented.

The other issue with a Turkish invasion would that it would destabilize the U.S. plans for partitioning and embargoing Syria.

And Damascus knows this full well.

Kurdish media quoted by Al-Watan newspaper reported on the sending of large reinforcements of the Syrian Army and its allies to the eastern Syrian province of Deir Ezzor. 'More forces from the Syrian Army and its allies travelled to Deir Ezzor as part of the preparations being carried out to expel the SDF militia from the controlled areas in eastern Euphrate River,' Kurdish agency Hawar reported.

If the SDF are fully occupied fighting a Turkish invasion, then Damascus will be able to take back the oil fields of Deir Ezzor. They could break the U.S./British oil embargo.