Survey finds support for anti-PKK fight, cross-border operation in Syria

Nearly two-thirds of participants in a recent survey indicate that they support Turkish cross-border operations in Syria, according to Istanbul-based A&G Research Company President Adil Gür who has announced the results of a recent survey regarding support for a possible cross-border operation as well as the continuation of operations against PKK targets. According to the survey, 61 percent of participants support the mobilization of a possible Turkish cross-border operation in Syria against the People's Protection Units (YPG) or DAESH, both of which are considered terrorist organizations by Ankara officials.

A possible ground operation was brought to the government agenda after the YPG pushed through opposition lines and captured more territory near the Turkish border, also carrying out attacks on a Syrian military base.

Ankara has been gravely concerned by the YPG's advances in Azaz, claiming that the group is engaged in an ethnic cleansing campaign against Arabs and Turkmens in the region in cooperation with the Syrian regime. The survey also found that 60 percent of respondents support the ongoing security operations against the PKK in Turkey's southeast.

Sixty-one percent of survey respondents also oppose the idea of a coalition government in favor of single-party rule. Speaking on Tuesday about the possibility of a military incursion into Syria, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said that conducting ground operations in Syria unilaterally would be unrealistic for Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

Stressing that Turkey, Saudi Arabia and a number of European allies support ground operations in Syria, he said there has been no consensus reached in the coalition and no strategy planned for the operation.

"If such an operation is to take place, it has to be carried out by a coalition, like the [coalition] airstrikes," he said. "The coalition has not had a serious debate on the idea of a ground operation. There were opponents as well as those who refused to take part albeit still expressing a desire for Turkey or another country to carry out the operation," he said.