The SDF launched a counter-offensive in opposition to the Turkish-backed SNA to reclaim areas close to Syria’s northern border. Clashes have intensified since Bashar al-Assad’s fall.
The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) launched a counteroffensive Tuesday in opposition to the Ankara-backed Syrian Nationwide Military to take again areas close to Syria’s northern border with Turkey.
Because the fall of the totalitarian rule of Bashar al-Assad earlier this month, clashes have intensified between the US-backed SDF and the SNA, which captured the important thing metropolis of Manbij and the encompassing areas.
The weeks-long clashes come at a time when Syria, battered by over a decade of warfare and financial distress, is negotiating its political future following greater than half a century underneath the al-Assad dynasty’s rule.
Ruken Jamal, spokesperson of the Ladies’s Safety Unit, or YPJ, underneath the SDF, advised AP that their fighters are simply over seven miles away from the centre of Manbij of their ongoing counterattack.
Jamal accused Turkey of making an attempt to weaken the group’s affect in negotiations over Syria’s political future by the SNA.
“Syria is now in a brand new section, and discussions are underway about the way forward for the nation,” Jamal mentioned. “Turkey is making an attempt, by its assaults, to distract us with battles and exclude us from the negotiations in Damascus.”
The UK-based warfare monitor, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, mentioned for the reason that SNA’s offensive in northern Syria in opposition to the Kurds began earlier this month, dozens from each side have been killed.
Ankara sees the SDF as an affiliate of its sworn enemy, the Kurdistan Staff’ Get together, or PKK, which it classifies as a terrorist organisation. Turkish-backed armed teams, alongside Turkish jets for years, have attacked positions the place the SDF are largely current throughout northern Syria in a bid to create a buffer zone free from the group alongside the big shared border.
Whereas the SNA was concerned within the lightning insurgency — led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham or HTS — that toppled al-Assad, it has continued its push in opposition to the SDF, seen as Syria’s second key actor for its political future.
In the meantime, the SDF has loved the backing of Washington, which considers the Kurdish forces to be its essential ally in opposition to any remaining pockets of the so-called Islamic State group and its satellites.
Ankara to not budge?
On Monday, the SDF spokesperson Farhad Shami mentioned the group’s forces pushed again the Turkish-backed rebels from areas close to the Tishrin Dam on the Euphrates, a key supply of hydroelectric energy. He mentioned the SDF additionally destroyed a tank belonging to the rebels southeast of Manbij.
The British-based warfare monitor mentioned on Tuesday that the Kurdish-led group, following in a single day combating, has reclaimed 4 villages within the areas close to the strategic dam.
Turkish jets additionally pounded the strategic border city of Kobani in latest days.
Throughout Syria’s uprising-turned-conflict, the Kurds carved out an enclave of autonomous rule throughout northeastern Syria, by no means allying totally with al-Assad in Damascus nor the rebels making an attempt to overthrow him.
Even with the al-Assad household out of the image, it seems that Ankara’s place will not change, with Turkish Overseas Minister Hakan Fidan’s landmark go to to Syria sustaining a powerful place on the Kurdish-led group in his assembly with de facto chief Ahmad al-Sharaa previously referred to as Abu Mohammad al-Jolani of HTS.
ADVERTISEMENT“It has turned the area right into a cauldron of terror with PKK members and far-left teams who’ve come from Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Europe,” Fidan mentioned in a information convention after the assembly. “The worldwide neighborhood is popping a blind eye to this lawlessness due to the wardenship it gives (in opposition to the so-called IS).”
With the continued combating, SDF Commander Mazloum Abdi has expressed concern a few sturdy IS resurgence because of the energy vacuum in Syria and the continued combating, which has left the Kurdish-led group unable to hold out its assaults and raids on the extremist group’s scattered sleeper cells.
Further sources • AP
