“We rely on both Turkey and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to help in the fight against ISIL [ISIS]. Both of them are critical to it,” a DoD spokesperson told Rudaw by email.
“Turkey certainly plays an extraordinarily important role, with their access, basing, overflight, variety of things that they do. And their operations along the border against ISIL are extraordinarily important and welcome. At the same time, we also value the contributions of the Syrian Democratic Forces, who have been a good partner to us in helping address the ISIL threat in the area.”
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are a coalition of local forces fighting Islamic State (ISIS) in northern Syria. The YPG is the main force within the SDF which also includes Arab, Christian, and other militias.
Some SDF remain west of the Euphrates in the city of Manbij, “as planned,” said the DoD spokesperson. They are clearing the city of explosive devices left behind by ISIS, as well as combatting remaining ISIS militants in the area.
Additional SDF are still operating west of the Euphrates but the DoD spokesperson declined to give details, “in the interest of operational security.”
Turkish and SDF forces have clashed in northern Syria, something US officials have described as “unacceptable.”
On Saturday, the SDF’s Jarablus Military Council and US Central Command both announced that a truce had been negotiated between the council and the Turkish army. Ankara denied that such an agreement was in place and vowed that its operation in Syria would continue “as long as terror from that area worries Turkish citizens,” foreign ministry spokesperson Tanju Bilgic said on Tuesday.
The DoD spokesperson told Rudaw on Thursday that things are now calm between the opposing forces.
That calm may be due to US Special Forces reportedly playing peacekeeper on the ground. According to Kurdish affairs analyst Mutlu Civiroglu, Colonel Hijo, head of the Jarablus Military Council, has said that the US Special Forces are deployed between council and Turkish forces “to ensure ceasefire holds.”
Head of Jarablus Military Council Colonel A Hijo: "US SF deployed between Tr forces & us to ensure ceasefire holds" pic.twitter.com/xw8lrhL9nv
— Mutlu Civiroglu (@mutludc) September 1, 2016
The Americans’ chief desire is to see all parties focused on fighting ISIS, rather than pointing their guns at each other. “What we have made clear is that our support to all parties is contingent upon the focus on ISIL,” the DoD spokesperson told Rudaw. “And that will be how we will continue to do this.”
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