US-Turkish Military Operation in N Syria Would de Facto an Invasion

The US and Turkey have announced an operation aimed at maintaining control over the last 98 kilometers of the Turkish-Syrian border, between Jarabulus and Afrin; this area overlaps with the primary corridor through which Islamists, including ISIL and al-Nusra receive weapons and fighters, Tony Cartalucci underscores.

In contrast to its vows to "defeat ISIL," the actions of the US-led anti-ISIL coalition demonstrate a desire to preserve the terrorist group, Bangkok-based geopolitical analyst Tony Cartalucci notes.

"Its [NATO's] feigned 'war on ISIS' helped open the door to the recent Russian military intervention. With Russia's entry into the war, the West can no longer afford to drag out its nonexistent operations against ISIS [ISIL], hoping for an opportunity to finally divide and destroy the country," Cartalucci writes in his recent piece for New Eastern Outlook.

A man (C) identified in the subtitiles as Al Karar the Iraqi gestures as he speaks at an undisclosed location in this image taken from undated video footage released by Islamic State. Islamic State warned in the new video on November 16, 2015 that countries taking part in air strikes against Syria would suffer the same fate as France, and threatened to attack in Washington

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Meanwhile, Russia and the Syrian Arab Army have almost sealed up the corridor themselves. In its turn NATO is at pains to implement a partial occupation of Syria. According to the analyst, the race is nearly over now.

Cartalucci points out that the terrorist attack in Paris has given NATO a "strong hand" and will most likely help the US and Turkey justify their upcoming military operation in northern Syria.

However, "the fact that the US and Turkey are seeking to secure Turkey's border with Syria from the Syrian side instead of within NATO territory itself, reveals the true nature of this unfolding conflict," the analyst remarks, adding that the operation will be de facto an invasion of Syria by NATO.

Western officials insist that the operation would cut off one of ISIL's lifelines. Surprisingly, for a few years they remained suspiciously silent on the flow of arms, fighters and money which have been flowing to the Islamic State through Turkey.

"All of the Paris attackers, likewise, passed through Turkey on their way to train, arm, and fight in Syria, and then through Turkey again on their way back to Europe. The tons of weapons and hundreds of fighters shipped covertly to Syria by the US in the Libyan terrorist capital of Benghazi also arrived first in Turkish ports before proceeding on, apparently with the knowledge and cooperation of the Turkish government," Cartalucci stresses.

A man works on cauldron in the Rmeilane oil field in Syria's northern eastern Hasakeh province on July 15, 2015

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In this light, if one really wants to cut off ISIL's lifelines, he should start doing this in Turkey, the analyst suggests.

Much in the same manner Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other Gulf realms have been supporting and funding terrorism in Syria and Iraq since the very beginning of the Syrian war. The Gulf States also constitute the "source" of ISIL, Cartalucci points out.

However, none of these states were sanctioned for their illicit activities. Instead, major Western powers were concluding lucrative weapons deals with the Gulf monarchies.

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