Europe cannot deliver Syria no-fly zone: MEPs

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – European powers are not able to provide northern Syria with a no-fly zone to protect civilians due to realities on the ground, members of the European Parliament (MEPs) said during a Rudaw-hosted panel in Brussels last week.

Speaking on a panel at the European Parliament on November 21, the MEPs told Rudaw the European Union is unable to offer a no-fly zone over northern Syria, where hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced by Turkey’s military offensive. 

“I understand the demand, but it is almost impossible to deliver on it because, let’s be honest, the ones who are controlling the air are the Russians,” said Kati Piri, a Dutch MEP.  

Turkey launched its long-planned incursion into Kurdish-controlled northern Syria on October 9.

The state aim of ‘Operation Peace Spring’ was to expel the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) from Turkey’s southern border and to establish a “safe zone” in which to settle up to three million Syrian refugees currently sheltered in Turkey.

The operation was widely condemned across Europe and by the United States. 

Syrian Kurds, having lost US protection from Turkey’s fleet of drones and F-16s, called for a no-fly zone to give them the chance of a “fair war” with Turkey. 

“I am quite happy to support the idea in principle of a no-fly zone. It would be a great thing if it is possible, but I can’t see actually as it has been said militarily deliverable,” said Martin Horwood, a UK Liberal Democrat MEP.

“The natural partner of the West in the region would normally be Turkey, as the use of airbases and so on. But as we have heard, we are not on the same page at all with Turkey at the moment,” Horwood added.

“I would love for it to be different because I think it is absolutely unfair and unjust, but that’s the way things are,” said Hannah Neumann, a German MEP.

“It’s absolutely legitimate to call for a no fly zone. I think it would help, but there is no one who could enforce it.”

“With a no fly zone, that means in the worst case you would have to take up the Russians to protect that no-fly zone. And without the US, and against as a NATO partner as Kati Piri said, is diplomatically but also in terms of capacity is very difficult for us,” added Neumann.

“We under the European Parliament had a very strong resolution after Turkey’s invasion. We denounced it as against international humanitarian law. We strongly supported the cause of the Kurdish. We even asked for an arms embargo on Turkey. But those who have the say on foreign policy in the European Union are the member states.”

“There is a stark contrast between a very good resolution of the parliament and what the members said in the Foreign Affairs Council. They couldn’t even agree on denouncing this as a violation of international humanitarian law.”

“That is where we are in reality. We cannot even denounce it. To enforce a no-fly zone against Russia sadly is a long way,” lamented Neumann.

For now, Turkey’s operation seems to be on hold, except for clashes in two strategic towns, Tel Tamr and Ain Issa.

Turkey has vowed to continue its operation until all the goals are met.