Militants of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (IS in short) has carried some of the heavy weaponry they have seized in Mosul and other battle grounds of Iraq into neighboring Syria. With the zest of creating their own state (caliphate) and the firepower they have acquired they have ran over disloyal armed forces and attracted oppressed people who would not put up a fight for the tyrants they have served or lived under.

The strategy of IS is pretty obvious: it wants to create a Sunni state in a Shiite dominated geography and like the Communists of the 1910s and 1920s plan to unite the downtrodden and powerless (Muslim) peoples under one roof. So they want to remove all obstacles or resistance on a large track of land connecting the east of Syria with the west of Iraq. The rich oilfields in these territories guarantee the survival of this grand scheme.
However there are two obstacles that they see as surmountable; Kurds and similar radical groups like the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front, once their fellow travelers. IS has taken over the eastern city of Deir el-Zour from the Nusra Front. The next target is the Kurdish-populated Syrian town of Ain al-Arab or Kobani. The town is on the border with Turkey; hence strategic for both Kurds and IS militants.

Fierce fighting is underway in the Kobani region that has lost some of its villages to the IS militants. These militants want to control the border crossings with Turkey for two reasons: they want to sell Syrian oil through Turkey, unhindered by the Kurds. Secondly making use of the Turkish official reluctance to see another autonomous Kurdish entity to the south of her border controlled by the PKK, they want to remove Kurdish existence along the eastern Turkish-Syrian border.

Formerly, being a part of the Syrian opposition lined up against the Assad government that is declared as an enemy by the Turkish government, today’s IS elements were logistically supported and their wounded were attended in Turkish facilities. Although Turkey denies such a support now, Syrian Kurds are pretty sure that this support, that is detrimental for them, is still going on.

Fall of Kurdish towns organized as three cantons of an autonomous administrative entity mean demise of Kurdish aspirations of freedom and autonomous existence in a repressive, undemocratic and uncertain Middle East. At a time when Kurds are seeking independence from the failing state of Iraq, Syrian Kurds are trying to build an autonomous entity. Their inspiration and part of their paramilitary power comes from the seasoned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) of Turkey. There is a similar development in Iran too.

While the PKK tries to reconcile with Turkey it shifts its (para)military power to Syria to defend its offshoot and the Kurds under its umbrella. There are plenty of news in the media regarding PKK members and sympathizers in Turkey are crossing into Syria to join the People's Protection Units (YPG), the local Kurdish militia in Syria. In fact the PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan and leaders in the Qandil Mountains (PKK military headquarters) in northern Iraq called on Kurds to join the YPG.

This phenomenon may have two consequences: 1- IS overcomes YPG (PKK) forces and become neighbors with Turkey. While some may think that a fellow Muslim organization may be a good ally, the fact that IS militants do not consider Turks to be “good Muslims”, hence see Turkey a potential target for further expansion may end up with great disappointment. Furthermore, a direct or indirect ally of the IS is a likely political target who are planning to take on the IS in the near future.

2- If the allegations are true and official agent of Turkey are in any way helping or supporting the IS against Syrian Kurds, neither the peace (or solution) process will reach anywhere, nor the much publicized disarmament of the PKK will take place.

In fact, Cemil Bayık, the co-chair of the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK), is on record saying a few days ago that “Those who think the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) will withdraw from armed struggle before the Kurdish people live in a “free and democratic” society are “dreamers”. Cemil Bayık, also accused Turkey of supporting Islamist groups fighting with Kurds in northern Syria.

He added, “This is why the Kurds will keep their legitimate defense force, and even look to reinforce it. Therefore, nobody should expect the PKK to lay down their arms before the Kurds live in a free and democratic society”.

His statement came at a time when a bill just passed in Turkey empowering the government to take all of the necessary measures to advance the peace initiative including steps to grant amnesty to Kurdish militants who lay down arms. It seems this is wishful thinking for the time being.