Report: Turkish measures expected against Syria

The Kuwaiti daily al-Qabas today quoted sources it described as well-informed in Ankara that the Turkish National Security Council is soon expected to take a decision to carry out measures against Syria.

This comes following threats launched against Syria by commander of Turkish land forces, Lt. Gen. Attallah Attash, on Wednesday while speaking from Alexandaritta.

The sources added that the council, which stands behind the Turkish military cooperation with Israel, will discuss the Syrian file in full and in detail by the end of the current month. The sources did not rule out that they will take decisions.

Among these expected decisions are reducing level of diplomatic relations, minimizing the volume of trade cooperation, closure of the Turkish airspace before the Syrian aircraft as well carrying out a new Turkish army build up along the borders with Syria.

The report also quoted the sources as saying that the Turkish army may carry out a limited operation just to "feel the pulse of the Syrian army" and the stances of the Arab states, the majority of which had criticized the Turkish-Israeli military alliance.

The sources also did not rule out that the Turkish forces will kidnap Abdullah Oghlan, leader of the Kurdistani Workers Party from Damascus, where he lives, as Ankara claims or from the Lebanese Bekaa plain as well as to destroy his bases. This presumed Turkish position also intends to test the credibility of the Israeli position on the alliance.

The sources, moreover, noted a scenario including an Israeli military act against Lebanon to embarrass Damascus and force it to accept the Israeli conditions at a time when Washington seems to be crippled as a result of President Bill Clinton's personal affairs.