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Kurdish fighters in both Turkey and Syria have accused the Turkish army of deliberately bombing their positions and condemned the attacks.
The accusations highlight Turkey's precarious position, as it simultaneously battles the Islamic State group in Syria as well as reigniting attacks against Kurds in Turkey itself.
Over the weekend, Turkish forces launched several airstrikes on Kurdish positions in both northern Iraq and Syria, in what the government claims were actions to, in fact, weaken the Islamic State group.
The Turkish government has recently entered the battle against the Islamic State group, the militant group terrorizing large parts of Iraq and Syria, after months of refusing to get involved. After the Islamic State group launched an attack within Turkey, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan took the opportunity to declare a “full-fledged battle against all terrorist organizations.”
However, the recent military operations against Kurdish positions in Iraq and Syria – as well as renewing a conflict against Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in its own country – has raised suspicions that Turkey's greater priority is to undermine Kurdish movements for greater autonomy.
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Erdogan is leading Turkey to civil war! Stop Erdogan's Anti-Kurdish stance! @NATO @jensstoltenberg #NATOStopErdogan #NoWar
— Berîvan Aslan (@Berivan_Aslan_)
July 27, 2015
These suspicions were exacerbated Monday, after it was revealed that Turkey and the United States army would work together to create an “Islamic State-free zone” in northern Syria – an area that is largely controlled by the Kurdistan People's Protection Unit (YPG). Kurdish fighters, such as the YPG, are adamantly opposed to Turkish military intervention in this region, according to numerous reports.
The Turkish government has since called on NATO member states to attend an emergency meeting to discuss security issues with Ankara. The meeting will be held Tuesday.
Kurdish fighters have voiced their disagreement with NATO coming to Turkey's aid, concerned that the extra military force will be used against the Kurdish movement.
Monday, Kurdish groups launched a major social media campaign telling NATO troops not to attend Tuesday's meeting. Launching the hashtag #NATOStopErdogon, Kurdish groups and supporters flooded Twitter and Facebook with messages telling NATO not to support the Turkish government.
Make #NATOStopErdogan trending! RT The best allies against IS are dying under #Turkish bombing Don't betray Kurds pic.twitter.com/DTp3ooP55V
— Marios Karatzias (@MariosKaratzias)
July 27, 2015
Dozens of Kurdish villages are under threat!Forests, houses, villages burned down & who is to blame? #NATOStopErdogan pic.twitter.com/q3GkYYamj4
— she (@HadelRahmany)
July 27, 2015
Turkey again started to burn down Kurdish villages. That is why all of us are PKK! #NATOStopErdogan #NATOStopErdogan pic.twitter.com/OC3ICO3xja
— Zohra K (@Zohra_K)
July 27, 2015
PKK is not terrorist. PKK defends the Kurds and other minorities in Kurdistan against oppression of Islamo-fascists. #NATOStopErdogan
— Gilgo (@dijraberi)
July 27, 2015
