New US arms shipment arrives in Syria’s Rojava

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — A new batch of US arms and ammunition arrived in Syria’s Kurdish enclave Rojava on Tuesday, Rudaw has learned. This is the second shipment of military aid to the Kurdish and Arab forces fighting ISIS in northern Syria since January this year. 

The shipment, which crossed the Semelka border into Syria from the Kurdistan Region, is believed to be part of the US military aid being delivered ahead of the operation to retake Raqqa from ISIS militants.  

The military convoy included several armoured vehicles and was escorted by US forces, sources said, adding that the vehicles had Kurdistan Region plates. 

At least 10 armoured vehicles were sent in January to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), an umbrella group which also includes the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), according to SDF spokesperson Talal Silo. 

Kurdish military officials have denied knowledge of the shipments and said that no Kurdistan Region forces are involved in the preparations for the Raqqa offensive. 

“No troops from the Peshmerga ministry have been dispatched to Rojava or Syria to take part in Raqqa operation,” said Jabar Yawar, an official with the Peshmerga ministry. 

No final dates have been set for the Raqqa offensive yet but French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said last week that the operation to capture the city from ISIS will start “within days.”

Turkey, a key US ally, sees YPG as a “terrorist” organisation and has vehemently opposed Washington's intentions to include the Kurdish group in the operation. Ankara has instead proposed using the formation of Syrian rebel factions under the umbrella of its Euphrates Shield operation to launch the offensive.