By SETH J. FRANTZMAN
The conflict in Syria's Afrin province is entering its second month. After a month of battles between the Turkish army, its Syrian rebel allies and the People's Protection Units (YPG), gains have been made by Turkey along the borders of Afrin. These gains have encouraged the Kurdish leadership to seek support from Damascus and pro-regime militias. How that came about has been detailed in several articles. These are based on interviews with knowledgable sources and provide a glimpse into the developing situation.
'Syrian Kurds angered by lack of Western support on Afrin', The Jerusalem Post, February 25, 2018
'Assad regime and Turkey both claim to be fighting ISIS in Afrin', The Jerusalem Post, February 22, 2018
'Iran confronts Turkey in Afrin,' The Jerusalem Post, February 21, 2018
'Big power politics and Afrin,' The Jerusalem Post, February 20, 2018