Germany continues to arm Ankara despite Turkey's attacks on Kurds in Syria
Germany continues to supply weapons to Ankara, even after the start of a Turkish military operation against the Kurds in Syria, as reported on Friday, March 30, by the German public-service channel ARD, citing a response by the German Foreign Ministry to a parliamentary inquiry by the Left Party.
Since January 20, the report said, Germany has issued permits valued at 4.4 million euros for the supply of arms and ammunition to Turkey.
Anton Hofreiter, co-chair of the Green parliamentary faction in the Bundestag, subjected these supplies to sharp criticism. "By supporting the Turkish army with ammunition supplies, the German government is contributing to Turkey's violations of international law in northern Syria and Africa," he said. According to the MP, the chances of Berlin mediating successfully to achieve peace in the conflict are becoming less likely as a result of such actions, and the recent condemnation of the Turkish military campaign by the Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel is just hot air.
On January 20, Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch against the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), which is part of the Democratic Syrian Forces coalition, as well as against the Democratic Union party in Afrin. Ankara considers these two groups to be terrorist organizations. On March 24, the Turkish Ministry of National Defense announced the capture of the entire Afrin region in north-western Syria.