Damascus armed PYD to prevent foreign incursion, claims Syrian MP

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The Syrian government armed the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) in the northern part of the country to prevent foreigners from entering these areas, a Kurdish lawmaker in the Syrian parliament claimed. He also condemned Turkey’s incursion into Syrian territory.

 

“The Syrian government armed the PYD in order to protect the people and the land and prevent foreign forces from coming into these areas. We do not want any party to oppress the PYD and they do not have to oppress anybody in return,” Riaz Tauws, a Kurdish-Syrian MP, told Rudaw TV.

 

Tauws said that they have an “understanding with the PYD in these areas, and both the government and the PYD have a common enemy, which is ISIS.”

 

Asked why the Syrian government does not defend the PYD in its fight against the Turkish led-forces, Tauws said that his government is “fighting many other terrorist groups on multiple fronts.”

 

He, however, condemned Turkey’s military presence on Syrian territory. “Turkey must not violate the rights of our people in the land of Syria. We, as the parliament and government, are against Turkey’s incursion into Syria.”

 

“Turkey is carrying out operations against Syrian people, killing Syrian people and bringing in its forces into Syria,” he added. “That has angered us.”

 

Tauws accused Turkey of supporting and bringing in terrorist groups into Syria.

 

“Turkey is supporting terrorist groups and bringing them into Syria especially to Aleppo and its surroundings,” he said, making sure that “there is no coordination between Ankara and Damascus.”

 

The Kurdish MP also accused the US of supporting Turkey’s military operations inside Syria.

 

“The Americans told Turkey to enter Syria,” he said, adding that “Iran, Russia and many other countries are against such an incursion by Turkey.”

 

Since Turkey began its assault against Islamic State (ISIS) militants in Jarablus on Wednesday, its Syrian militia allies have been clashing with US-backed SDF fighters south of Jarablus in northwestern Syria. Turkey has also been attacking the Kurdish forces, which it claims are linked to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), with artillery and airstrikes in the area.

 

The Free Syrian Army (FSA), backed by the Turkish military, continued its offensive to retake areas under control of the Syrian Democratic Party (SDF) and ISIS.
    

Tauws dismissed claims that Hakan Fidan, head of the Turkish Intelligence Agency (MIT) has met with government authorities in Damascus.

 

“This news is far from the truth. Hakan Fidan has in no way visited Damascus and there are no relations between the two," he asserted.