Ömer Özkizilcik is an analyst working with the Middle East Foundation think tank in Ankara. He is also an editor for the Suriye Gündemi news website. https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/contributor/omer-ozkizilcik/rss en Diplomacy & Foreign Affairs Opposition Groups & Rebel Forces Tue, 23 Jan 2018 11:30:00 +0000 Ömer Özkizilcik https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2018/01/23/analysis-why-turkey-wants-a-secure-zone-in-afrin https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2018/01/23/analysis-why-turkey-wants-a-secure-zone-in-afrin Turkey’s operation on the Kurdish enclave of Afrin in Syria aims to halt YPG expansion near Turkey’s border, facilitate refugee returns and empower Ankara-backed FSA forces, writes analyst Ömer Özkizilcik.