Turkish officials have vowed to continue military operations in the border region with Syria "until all threats to its national security are removed."
Sputnik Turkiye discussed the issue with Mehmet Yuva, Syrian political analyst of Turkish origin and international security expert at Damascus University.
"It is only too clear that Turkey is striving to play a more substantial role in defining Syria's political future. Or, at least to ensure that the groups it supports take part in this process," Mehmet Yuva told Sputnik.
The political analyst noted that such a decision might seem quite natural for the neighboring country.
However, he added, if Ankara, on the one hand, wants to create a safe zone along its common border with Syria and prevent the unification of the Kurdish cantons, and, on the other, eliminate Daesh in the region, it should act more transparent and establish contact with other players in the region, and, first of all, with the Syrian government.
"This causes serious concerns amongst Russia and Iran who expected a more active approach from Turkey in the setting up of a direct dialogue with Damascus," Yuva told Sputnik.
"Taking into account all the above, Ankara should not forget that its military presence in Syria is possible only thanks to Moscow in the first place, which did not impede its Euphrates Shield operation," he said.
The expert noted that the political and military presence of Turkish armed forces on the territory from the western Euphrates towards the city of Azaz, including the city of al-Bab, does not trigger Moscow's concern.
However Russia, he added, firmly insists that it is the Syrian government army which should control the line from Aleppo and Idlib to the north of Lattakia.
"This is the red line for Russia. In case the Turkish troops cross this line, it could drastically alter the situation in the region and trigger the process of turning the "proxy hybrid wars" into direct military actions between foreign forces in Syria – and this means a new world war," warned the political analyst.
However Mehmet Yuva pointed out that it is being carried out in cooperation with the opposition Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters and with the support of the Turkish military.
"Everyone knows only too well that is the FSA is all about and who it consists of," the expert said.
Besides, he added, it has become known that the Ahrar al-Sham group, a coalition of multiple Islamist and Salafist units also intends to take part in the operation.
All the above has made the expert wonder what Turkey is really after from the military operation in Aleppo. It could be the case that it is planning a new operation with those groups which were previously defeated in Aleppo, or alternatively Turkey may want to prevent the closure of the frontline in Aleppo and to continue further support of the opposition groups in the region.
The real reasons are yet to be revealed, Yuva concluded.
