As the number of dead YPG militants increases and Turkish-backed forces advance toward the center of Afrin, there will be a more determined effort to limit and ultimately render Operation Olive Branch unsuccessful

The Syrian National Dialogue Congress met in Sochi on Jan. 30. The congress took shorter than planned, and some opposition groups that were expected to join refused to participate in the meetings at the last minute.

What is the strategic reasoning behind Turkey’s military operation against the PKK in the Afrin region? What does Turkey’s game plan mean for the region? What are the implications of Turkey’s military operation for the future of the Turkey-U.S.-Russia triangle?

What are the policy divergences between Turkey and the US in Syria? What is the US policy to stabilize Syria after the demise of ISIS? How will the Afrin operation influence US-Turkey relations?

With the liberation of Afrin, Turkey will have dealt a major blow to PKK terrorists and their sponsors and seriously undermine efforts to create a terror corridor across northern Syria

U.S. officials underestimating Turkey's security concerns on its Syrian border damages NATO allies Turkey and the U.S.'s bilateral relations

The Pentagon continued to arm, equip and train the People's Protection Units (YPG) despite Ankara's concerns and criticism.

Washington needs to understand the legitimate reasons why Turkey launched its anti-terrorism operation against the YPG in northern Syria

Now it's Washington's turn to decide.

If Washington reconsiders its YPG policy, it will understand its irrational expectations of Ankara

What does the U.S. really want in Syria?

Turkey's plan to build a wall on the Syrian border ruins the YPG's plans, and that is why it is trying to do its best to prevent the construction of the wall by killing workers

Operation Olive Branch is a more difficult operation in comparison to Operation Euphrates Shield because both Daesh and the YPG are terrorist organizations, but Daesh seemed to be a more legitimate target for the international community, whereas there is difference of opinion concerning the status of the PYD, even among Turkey's NATO allies

Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research experts: Operation Olive Branch meets international law requirments

As a NATO ally, the U.S. shouldn't have underestimated Turkey's security concerns and instead, should have understood how serious Ankara is in dealing with YPG terrorists in northern Syria

Washington's risky game with the YPG and Turkey's severe military response to this organization has a potential to bring the strategic cooperation between these two countries to the brink of collapse.

France, one of the two founding partners of the EU, lagged behind Germany in the past several years due to problems in its economy, but domestic politics is trying to strengthen its diplomatic posture with its young and visionary president.