Khalil told North Press that Turkey is trying to exploit any chance to pounce on the Kurdistan region of Iraq, especially since federal Iraq is currently suffering from political weakness due to its parliament’s inability to agree on a new president.

“Turkey suffers from Kurdophobia and it fears the democratic project in Syria that brings together all communities within a single project. Therefore, it has resorted to occupying Jarablus, al-Bab, Azaz, and Afrin [in northern Syria], and it is now preparing to launch other attacks to occupy new areas,” Khalil added.

The PYD leader pointed out that if the US were willing to intervene to force a dialogue between Ankara and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), this may address several issues of the Middle East, saying, “The dialogue may lead to easing the Turkish pressure on both Damascus and Baghdad.”

Reporter's code: 50101