1/#Turkey had well established "soft power" lines of influence throughout the Greater #MiddleEast (North #Africa, Horn of Africa, Eastern #Mediterranean, etc.).

https://twitter.com/ragipsoylu/status/1210606674018537472

2/But now #Turkish leaders are ready to assume greater risk to assert overt military power in an expeditionary manner to expand #Turkey's influence, and therefore leverage, on conflicts beyond the country's near abroad (#Libya being farther than say #Cyprus or #Syria).

1/#SDF chief Gen. Mazloum: (1)Sent a letter to #Trump asking for mediation with #Turkey; (2) Requested a No Fly Zone to stop #Turkish airstrikes over #Syrian airspace. The U.S. not stopping Turkish airstrikes over the SDF Zone in N/E #Syria is the major source of tension now. 2/#SDF chief Gen Mazloum: "When our soldiers see how their mothers and fathers are being attacked and killed, and #Turkey is using our airspace to do it, that makes them angry with the United States." #Syria

1-A lot of attention lately on the faults of the #SDF and the DAA/NES in #Syria's eastern province of #DeirEzzor. I think that it's useful for us to have some perspective and to take a step back and acknowledge that the SDF has a tall task but it is trying hard to do it right. 2-The SDF was never meant to go to DEZ. In fact, the Obama team thought Assad and Allies would seize that province from ISIS. When Raqqa concluded and the next stop was ISIS consolidated in DEZ the SDF was sent to finish the job. The Coalition had no other Syrian partner capable.