Saudi Arabia jointly with Turkey seeks to isolate Kurds in Hasakah province.
Turkey seeks to expand their own influence as the United States retreated. Saudi Arabia, in turn, finds itself having to be more proactive, primarily to defend against Iran’s increased activism. All the two see the Syrian civil war as a key arena for their various regional ambitions.
Riyadh and Ankara are going to create an anti-Iranian zone in Eastern Syria. To that end, they are betting on Sunni Arab tribes living in this area. According to the source, a plan of isolating Kurds and resisting Iran is one of main aims of possible Turkish and its allied forces operation in Northern Syria.
President Donald Trump justified his decision to withdraw U.S. forces from Syria and said the fate of the country is in hands of Turkey and Saudi Arabia, noting that Riyadh is ready to rebuilt the Arab state without offering any details:
Saudi Arabia has now agreed to spend the necessary money needed to help rebuild Syria, instead of the United States. See? Isn’t it nice when immensely wealthy countries help rebuild their neighbors rather than a Great Country, the U.S., that is 5000 miles away. Thanks to Saudi A!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 24, 2018
President @RT_Erdogan of Turkey has very strongly informed me that he will eradicate whatever is left of ISIS in Syria….and he is a man who can do it plus, Turkey is right “next door.” Our troops are coming home!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 24, 2018
Syria has been a major theater in the proxy conflict throughout its ongoing civil war, which began in 2011. Iran and the GCC states have provided varying degrees of military and financial support to opposing sides, with Iran backing the government and Saudi Arabia supporting rebel militants.
The following picture published by The Guardian describes how Saudi Arabia and Iran are squaring off:
