The Kurdish forces in Syria are asking Russia and the US to put pressure on Turkey not to launch a ground attack. Recall that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan last week launched a series of airstrikes against Kurdish militants in northern Syria and warned that a ground operation would soon follow.
During an online press conference, however, Abdi asserted that the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces "will defend themselves" if Turkey launches an attack. Ankara has since Nov. 20 launched aerial bombardments in northeastern Syria on positions of Kurdish fighters, members of organizations that Ankara calls "terrorists." Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated last week his intention to order a ground offensive "when the time comes".
"We asked them to stop the Turkish attacks."
SDF commander-in-chief Abdi met on Saturday with the commander-in-chief of Russian forces in Syria, General Alexander Chayko, at the Kamisli military airport in northeastern Syria.
"We asked them to stop the Turkish attacks," the Kurdish military officer said. According to him, "it is clear that the Turks (...) are preparing" for a ground attack. Moscow, an ally of the Syrian regime, and Washington, which supports the Syrian Kurds, recently called on Ankara for "restraint."
If Turkey makes good on its threats, "we will be forced to expand the scope of this war" to cover the entire border area, Abdi warned, who regretted the "weak" position shown by Washington.
Casualties from Turkish raids
Since November 20, some 75 people have been killed in Turkish raids, mostly SDF fighters, as well as about ten Syrian civilians and soldiers, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.[/P]
Thanks to the war in Syria, which began in 2011 and divided the country, the Syrian Kurds have taken control of much of the northeastern part of the country, establishing an autonomous administration despite Ankara's anger.
Russia had played a mediating role in the previous Turkish offensive in 2019 and secured a deal under which the Syrian army and Russian forces were deployed along the border.
What he asked Washington
Speaking by phone to Reuters, Abdi asked Washington to send a "stronger" message to Ankara. The SDF chief also said he would not rely on relatively "weak" Syrian air defenses, having previously said he hoped Syrian air defenses would help his forces defend against Ankara's airstrikes.
"There are reinforcements on the border and inside Syria in areas controlled by factions allied to Turkey. We noticed it and, yes, this is something new," SDF leader Mazlum Abdi told Reuters by phone from Syria."
The Syrian Kurds have received support from Washington for years, but have also coordinated with the Syrian government and its ally Russia, both considered enemies by the United States. The Kurdish military officer said he received "clear" assurances from Washington and Moscow that they oppose a Turkish ground invasion but want something more tangible.
Syria sees Turkey as an occupying force in its north
The SDF and Ankara have traded accusations over who is violating the 2019 deal brokered by the US and Russia to clear Kurdish fighters from border areas in exchange for Turkey's non-invasion. Abdi said his forces had not been asked to withdraw from other zones and would refuse if asked, adding that the main mediators in this deal were too busy with Moscow's war in Ukraine to properly enforce it.
"Everyone is busy. The Russia-Ukraine war has had a negative impact on the commitments of these countries in this region," he said. Syria sees Turkey as an occupying power in its north and Damascus has said it would consider any new Turkish incursion a "war crime."
But cold ties may be thawing: Turkey's intelligence chief has had secret talks in Damascus and its foreign minister has encouraged the rebels and the government to reconcile. This has alarmed Syria's Kurdish population, but Abdi stressed that he had received assurances from Damascus that a reconciliation with Ankara would require the complete withdrawal of Turkish troops.
Source: in.gr
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