NO MORE ANTI-ISIL OPERATIONS AFTER TURKISH ATTACKS, SAYS US BACK SDF

Fri 02 December 2022:

A Syrian group that Turkey claims was responsible for the Istanbul bombing on November 13 has announced it will no longer take part in international counterterrorism operations with the US and other partners because of Turkish attacks, Reuters reported.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which controls territory in northern Syria, said on Friday that “all coordination and joint counterterrorism operations” with the US-led coalition battling ISIL (ISIS) remnants in Syria, as well as “all the joint special operations we were carrying out regularly”,” had been halted.

The People’s Protection Units (YPG), which make up the majority of the SDF, were the US’s primary regional ally in Syria in the fight against ISIL (ISIS).

The Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, is regarded by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union as a “terrorist” organization. However, Ankara believes that the YPG is the PKK’s Syrian affiliate.

In recent weeks, Turkey has increased its airstrikes and shelling of northern Syria, and it is gearing up for a land campaign against the YPG.

Turkish authorities blamed the group, as well as the PKK, for carrying out the Istanbul bombing, which killed six people, and said the suspected bomber had confessed to having been trained by the PKK in Syria.

The SDF has long threatened that fighting off a new Turkish incursion would divert resources away from protecting a prison holding ISIL fighters or fighting ISIL sleeper cells still waging hit-and-run attacks in Syria.

The Turkish bombardment – using both long-range weapons and air attacks – has frustrated its NATO ally Washington.

US defence secretary, Lloyd Austin, told his Turkish counterpart on Wednesday that the US was in “strong opposition to a new Turkish military operation in Syria”.

Austin also said Turkish raids had “directly threatened the safety of US personnel who are working with local partners in Syria to defeat ISIS”, according to the Pentagon.

However, Turkey has accused the US and other countries opposed to its attacks on the SDF of not taking Ankara’s security concerns seriously.

The US-led coalition has backed the SDF with air strikes, military equipment and advisers since 2017, first helping it wrest back territory from ISIL and then supporting clearing operations against sleeper cells.

SDF head Mazloum Abdi said earlier this week he wanted a “stronger” message from Washington after seeing unprecedented Turkish deployments along the border.

“We are still nervous. We need stronger, more solid statements to stop Turkey,” he said. “Turkey has announced its intent and is now feeling things out. The beginning of an invasion will depend on how it analyses the positions of other countries.”

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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