Known as Ayn al-Arab in Arabic language, Kobani locates on the border between Turkey and Syria. The place has a significant role for each actor taking place in the Syrian civil war. However, this role poses a threat for Syria, Turkey and the others because DAESH/ISIS attached an importance, as well. If DAESH/ISIS has an opportunity to take and establish a control on this land, it would be possible to control “swath of land” without interruption from its “self-declared capital”.[1] From the perspective of Kurds living in this part of the city, this is “strategically and symbolically” significant because of its narrative meaning.[2] Moreover, the former leader Masoud Barzani was always describing its importance and added that they would never hesitate to exert efforts to save this land. Under these circumstances, its importance for Turkey is because of efforts exerted to prevent DAESH/ISIS control on the region.
DAESH/ISIS, terrorist organization, has a purpose prioritizing unification of the Muslim communities. It has aimed to construct a united Muslim world, known as “the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham”; however, it is an illegal ultimate aim, according to the international law. According to Misztal and Michkek, they will be possible to control “three official border crossings between Turkey and Syria, and 60 miles of the Turkish border” if DAESH/ISIS controls Ayn-Al Arab; moreover, DAESH/ISIS will be able to control “from the perimeter of Baghdad to its Syrian capital of Raqqa to Kobani and the Turkish border” if they win the hegemonic competition in the battle for Ayn-Al Arab.[3] Therefore, the fall of Ayn-Al Arab means defeat for Turkey and other actors involving in this region.
Those who have live in this region have delivered an assistance from Turkey to fight and defeat DAESH/ISIS in Ayn-Al Arab. For example, Turkey permitted peshmerga forces locating in Northern Iraq passed the Turkish border and reach Ayn-Al Arab for attending the battle against DAESH/ISIS. In the fight for Kobani, DAESH/ISIS paid an increasingly heavy price with the support given to the peshmerga forces by Turkey in line with wider efforts to provide regional stability by defeating DAESH/ISIS; moreover, Turkish foreign minister Mevlüt Çavusoğlu stated that “the decision to allow the peshmerga to pass through its territory was in line with a wider regional effort to fend off DAESH/ISIS”.[4]Turkey’s main aim is to clear all the region from terror threats. In that regard, Turkey has provided military, medical, and material aids to those living in this part of the country by standing together in their fight against DAESH/ISIS for years. Moreover, Turkey stands against the massacre which has taken place in Ayn-Al Arab and thousands of civilians have been killed by DAESH/ISIS. Thus, Turkey has hosted people felling from DAESH/ISIS’ oppression and torment.
To conclude, Turkey’s support to Ayn-Al Arab has mainly shaped on the fight against terrorism and radicalism. In that regard, Turkey has pursued a policy to strengthen the peshmerga forces to defeat DESH/ISIS. Ankara has sent troops and delivered humanitarian and military aids to the region. Thus, Turkey will continue to stand against humanitarian crisis taking place in this region.
[1] Blaise Misztal &Jessica Michek, “The Importance of Kobani”, Bypartisan Policy Website (Oct 29, 2014), retrieved from https://bipartisanpolicy.org/blog/the-importance-of-kobani/
[2] Blaise Misztal &Jessica Michek, “The Importance of Kobani”, Bypartisan Policy Website (Oct 29, 2014), retrieved from https://bipartisanpolicy.org/blog/the-importance-of-kobani/
[3] Blaise Misztal &Jessica Michek, “The Importance of Kobani”, Bypartisan Policy Website (Oct 29, 2014), retrieved from https://bipartisanpolicy.org/blog/the-importance-of-kobani/
[4] Constanze Letsch, “Kurdish peshmerga forces arrive in Kobani to bolster fight against Isis”, Guardian Newspaper (Nov 1, 2014), retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/nov/01/kurdish-peshmerga-kobani-isis-syria
TURKEY'S FIGHT AGAINST DAESH/ISIL 