As Ankara is conducting a massive operation to hunt down the main suspect behind a deadly terrorist attack at a nightclub in Istanbul, questions have been raised about the reasons why Turkey has become the scene of more extremist violence lately. We have asked David Lindorff, an investigative journalist, to share with us his opinion about the issue.
Lindorff pinned the blame for the recent increase in terror attacks on Turkish authorities, saying that since Ankara has stopped sponsoring terrorist groups, like Daesh, in Syria in favor of a ceasefire agreement with Russia, it is quite natural for these groups to seek revenge.
“Turkey is now in a position of working in consortium with Russia and Syria and Iran to try to pacify the situation in Aleppo. So, by being brought into the process with Russia on that issue, they have now, as I see it, angered elements in ISIS [Daesh] who want to punish them for that because Turkey had been supporting ISIS.”
Lindorff noted that by doing so, the militants are probably trying to force Turkey to back away from the Syria ceasefire agreement.
Asked about Turkey’s irresolution and lack of a transparent strategy in Syria, he replied that “Turkey is trying to sit at the middle. They don't really want to leave NATO and at the same time don't want to alienate themselves from Russia."
As Russia, Syria, and Iran have the upper hand in the battle against Daesh terrorists, he argued, it is better for Turkey to join the alliance; otherwise, it is going to be the loser.
Turkey has come under many attacks over the past year, claimed by Kurdish militants and the Daesh Takfiri terror group, which operates in neighboring Syria and Iraq.