They are responding to the bombing in istanbul
No. It is the pretense of retaliation for the bombing in Istanbul. Turkey is still supporting ISIS and are still using the background noise to justify taking over N. Syria. Since Erdoo, Turkey is not a reliable NATO ally.
Escobar: Operation Claw-Sword - Erdogan’s Big New Games In Syria
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/escobar-operation-claw-sword-erdogans-big-new-games-syria
Another decent article. Most of the better ones are not in English. This one is very American-centric, but it contains many of the important crisis vectors, even if mostly from an American POV.
[Excerpt] During the meeting, the US ambassador reportedly offered a 30-kilometer pullback of Kurdish forces to prevent Turkey from launching its promised ground offensive. According to a Kurdish media report, however, Ankara has not only demanded a 30-kilometer withdrawal of the SDF from Turkey’s borders, but also that all members of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in Syria be handed over to Turkish custody.
The report also states that Turkey has demanded “the allocation of partial oil revenues in SDF-controlled areas for the benefit of factions loyal to Ankara [and the areas under their control],” referring to the Syrian National Army (SNA) and the Free Syrian Army (FSA).
Ankara has also requested the establishment of “observation points,” either independent ones or joined by the US coalition, to allow Turkey to “monitor weapons transfers [following the SDF withdrawal].”
The Kurdish report also states that Ankara is willing to “substitute” all of its conditions with a handover “of the entire area” to the Syrian Arab Army (SAA). The report also accused Turkey of having a secret agreement with Russia that would allow it to occupy more Syrian territory. This could be due to Russian pressure on the Kurdish militants to withdraw.
While the US mediates between Turkey and the Kurds, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced Friday that a Turkish ground offensive in Syria is still imminent and will begin “when the time comes.”