He also added that Turkey would tighten security across the country, especially in the capital.
The statement came a day after a phone conversation between Turkish President President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his US counterpart Barack Obama. Although Barack Obama pledged his support to Turkey’s presidency he urged to halt artillery strikes on the Turkish-Syrian border.
Washington does not consider the Syrian Kurdish YPG a terrorist organization and backs the group in the fight against Daesh in Syria.
Larry Johnson, retired CIA intelligence officer and State Department official, joined Radio Sputnik to discuss the situation on Syria’s border with Turkey, which he views as one of the most dangerous standoffs since the Cuban missile crisis.
“What is of more concern is the apparent terrorist attack by the Kurds inside Ankara because this reflects one of these long standing civil wars and the Turks have gotten away with it for years. And so this is a real dilemma for the US because the US has caste its lock with the Kurds as being the most viable force to try to get rid of Assad and now they are facing the fact that Kurds are fighting in alliance in some aspects with Assad.”
Speaking further about this, Johnson said, “The situation along that border really alarms me. I would say that this potentially is the greatest crisis since the Cuban missile crisis back in the 60’s because there the Turks have already attacked a Russian jet and the prospects of this spinning out of control are significant.”
“The Syrian army with the backing of Russia and Iran is operating very effectively and retaking significant swats of territory from the terrorists and pushing them towards Turkey. I don’t see why Syria would go for the ceasefire now when the situation is working out to their advantage,” Johnson said.
He further spoke about the various possibilities in which the ceasefire may be applied and how it can be implemented if the terrorists don’t exploit it.
Mentioning the other groups the official said that negotiation is not part of what they do. “From their standpoint they are embarked on a religious mission, a holy mission designated by God therefore they don’t have a choice, so there is no deal to be cut it’s basically repent or die.”
Johnson further spoke about how Russia is the only country that had the “courage and wisdom” to realize the threat that Daesh posed and has done something about it.
Earlier in the day, the US and Russia agreed the terms of the Syria ceasefire deal, according to which Syrian government forces and the country's armed opposition are set to cease hostilities staring February 27. Military action, including airstrikes conducted by Syria, Russia and the US-led coalition will continue against Daesh, al-Nusra Front, as well as other UN-designated terrorist groups.
