ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Parties in Rojava have called for unity as the Kurdish self-autonomous region of northern Syria faces threats to its existence. "Kurdish unity is a necessity at this stage. We can all come to an agreement together. We have to be the decision-makers in the Kurdistan region of Syria and for us to protect our people," Ridhwan Seydo, a member of ENKS's legal committee, told Rudaw. ENKS (Kurdistan National Council) is the rival of the ruling PYD (Democratic Union Party) in Rojava and it has had good ties with Turkey. A member of another party in Rojava, Peshvaro, has advocated strengthening ties with Damascus. "It is better if we protect ourselves and not fall into competition between the great powers. We should try as much as possible to reach an agreement with the regime. Events of the year, like in Iraqi Kurdistan, have shown us that we need to reach an agreement with the regime," said Hassan Jango, senior member of Peshvaro, told Rudaw. The regime of Bashar al-Assad has consolidated its gains across Syria with Russian and Iranian backing and is eyeing victory in the more than seven-year long bloody civil war. The ruling PYD says it will target those who want to impose themselves on Afrin. The Kurdish enclave fell to Turkish forces in March. Turkey’s president has vowed to move eastward towards other Kurdish-administered areas, even across the border into the Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. Kurds have accused Turkey of making a land grab and institution geographic change with the relocation of Syrian rebels and their families from other areas of the country and putting them in Kurdish homes in Afrin. "Through a plot, they have been brought from Ghouta to Afrin. They want to impose their interests and legitimize their presence in Afrin. They will be targeted by our forces and they will be our diplomatic, social, and political targets. We will never accept this. They have come through a plot, organized by Iran, Turkey, and Russia," Shiekhmous Ahmed, a senior PYD member, told Rudaw. The fate of Rojava is unclear as Damascus strengthens and global powers weigh their options and influence in the Middle East. Many consider the US, an ally of the Kurdish forces in the war against ISIS, as the only defense against any Turkish aggression against Rojava. What the US will do, however, in not clear – US President Donald Trump says he wants to leave Syria, but Defense Secretary James Mattis says they will stay.
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