Zero Hedge notes that a dramatic escalation in the Syrian conflict is developing.
In short, the Turkish Army has started shelling Kurdish forces occupying Minnigh Airbase in Aleppo. Aleppo is in north west Syria, not much more than 40km or so from the nearest point on the Syria/Turkey border.
This is an airbase that US backed Kurdish forces took from ISIS only a few days ago.
The Americans are very unhappy with this development and have publicly protested against it, asking the Turks to stop their attacks according to the AFP.
To get this straight: NATO member Turkey is attacking the same anti-Islamist forces supported by their own NATO ally and military partner, the USA.
Aleppo remains a partially ISIS controlled city located in north west Syria. The city was a key link in the now-severed “Azaz Corridor” supply route between Turkey and the anti-Assad rebels (including ISIS) that Ankara has been supporting.
RT also reports that Saudi forces may launch attacks directly into Syria, based out of Incirlik Air Force Base in Turkey.
It seems to me that both Turkey and Saudi Arabia are pissed that the anti-Assad insurgents and Islamists that they support are being squeezed hard by a combination of Russian and Syrian Government forces.
Russia is unlikely to take any escalation favourably. It is worth remembering that Russia has covered large parts of Syrian air space with advanced S-300 and S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems. And since Turkey shot down a Russian jet, they have made it clear that future shennanigans will not be tolerated.
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