ERBIL, Kurdistan Rudaw – Turkish forces and the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) have begun digging trenches on opposing sides of the Syria-Turkey border, according to Turkish media, just days after Ankara threatened to deploy troops east of the Euphrates.

The YPG has collected excavators for the task from Sari Kani (Ras al-Ain) in Hasaka, according to footage published by Turkish news agency Demiroren News Agency (DHA).

Another Turkish news agency, CNN Turk, meanwhile reports Turkey has begun digging its own trenches around Ceylanpinar, Sanliurfa district, which hugs the Syrian border.

In a speech on Saturday, Turkish president Recap Tayyip Erdogan said his forces will bury the YPG in their own trenches.

Although this is not the first time Erdogan has threated to launch a new offensive against the YPG east of the Euphrates, the digging of earthworks indicate neither side is taking any chances in case of a sudden outbreak of violence.

Erdogan warned on Wednesday last week he would deploy troops east of the Euphrates to fight the YPG – Kurdish fighters that make up the backbone of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

This is despite the presence of US military personnel supporting the SDF operation to clear ISIS remnants from the Hajin pocket in Deir ez-Zor. Such an offensive would cause problems for the NATO allies.

Turkey considers the YPG an offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), an armed group fighting for greater Kurdish political and cultural rights in Turkey, which is designated a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US, and the EU.

Turkish bombardment of YPG positions near the Syria-Turkey border in November caused the SDF to suspend its anti-ISIS operation. This forced the US to intervene diplomatically and led to the creation of US-manned outposts along the Syria-Turkey border.

Despite recent improvements in Turkey-US relations, international opposition was not enough to prevent Turkey sending troops into Afrin, northwest Syria in January this year. Turkey has also laid down roots in Idlib, where it is supporting the last remnants of the Syrian opposition.

In a phone call on Friday, Erdogan and US President Donald Trump agreed to have “more effective coordination” on Syria. Turkish and US forces are already carrying out joint military patrols near SDF-held Manbij on the west bank of the Euphrates.

On Saturday, Federica Mogherini, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, urged Turkey to avoid “unilateral” action against Kurdish forces in Syria because it would undermine coalition efforts to defeat ISIS.

“We share the goal of ending violence, defeating terrorism and promoting stability in Syria and the wider region. We expect the Turkish authorities therefore to refrain from any unilateral action likely to undermine the efforts of the Counter-Daesh [ISIS] Coalition or to risk further instability in Syria,” she said in a statement.

Rudaw