SDF halts offensive against ISIS after Turkish attacks
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced they have temporarily halted their offensive against ISIS in the Hajin pocket of Deir ez-Zor province after Turkey repeatedly shelled Kurdish forces in northern Syria.
The continued Turkish attacks “are the reason for a long term suspension of our military campaign against ISIS, which is what Turkey wants,” the SDF stated Wednesday evening.
Turkish forces fired at Kurdish positions in northern Syria, east of the Euphrates River, on at least three separate occasions in the past four days. One member of self-defence forces has been killed and several injuries have been reported.
Turkey considers the Kurdish forces to be a branch of the PKK and alleged they have come under fire from northern Syria. Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday that preparations are complete for an offensive east of the Euphrates River.
The Kurdish YPG, under the umbrella of the SDF, is leading the war against ISIS in northern and eastern Syria in coordination with international allies of the coalition. French and American troops are on the ground in northern Syria.
The US said it was concerned about Turkey’s actions.
"Unilateral military strikes into northwest Syria by any party, particularly as American personnel may be present or in the vicinity, are of great concern to us," State Department spokesman Robert Palladino told reporters.
"Coordination and consultation between the United States and Turkey on issues of security concern is a better approach," he added.
The US and Turkey are coordinating in the Manbij area.
France on Tuesday expressed concern about Turkey’s attacks, calling for parties to pursue a political solution rather than the military option.
The SDF, YPG, and allied local political councils and parties control more than a quarter of Syria. They defeated ISIS in Kobane, Tabqa, Raqqa, and are now battling the group in its last stronghold in the Hajin area.
Kurds accuse Turkey of silently backing ISIS and attacking Kurdish forces in order to distract from the war against the militant group.
“This direct coordination between the Turkish Army attacks in the north and the attacks of ISIS in the south against our forces led to the temporary stopping of the fight to defeat terror,” the SDF stated on Wednesday.
The force said it considered Turkey’s attacks east of the Euphrates “direct support” from the Turkish state to ISIS.
The SDF called on the international community to condemn Turkey and for their coalition allies to “show a resolute position to deter Turkey.”
Turkey, however, is building up support for a potential ground offensive among its allied Syrian militias.
Turkish forces west of the Euphrates and in Afrin, where they have previously carried out military operations with Syrian proxies, called on Syrian militias who want to join a ground operation to register their names, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.
Updated at 10:53 pm
The continued Turkish attacks “are the reason for a long term suspension of our military campaign against ISIS, which is what Turkey wants,” the SDF stated Wednesday evening.
Turkish forces fired at Kurdish positions in northern Syria, east of the Euphrates River, on at least three separate occasions in the past four days. One member of self-defence forces has been killed and several injuries have been reported.
Turkey considers the Kurdish forces to be a branch of the PKK and alleged they have come under fire from northern Syria. Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday that preparations are complete for an offensive east of the Euphrates River.
The Kurdish YPG, under the umbrella of the SDF, is leading the war against ISIS in northern and eastern Syria in coordination with international allies of the coalition. French and American troops are on the ground in northern Syria.
The US said it was concerned about Turkey’s actions.
"Unilateral military strikes into northwest Syria by any party, particularly as American personnel may be present or in the vicinity, are of great concern to us," State Department spokesman Robert Palladino told reporters.
"Coordination and consultation between the United States and Turkey on issues of security concern is a better approach," he added.
The US and Turkey are coordinating in the Manbij area.
France on Tuesday expressed concern about Turkey’s attacks, calling for parties to pursue a political solution rather than the military option.
The SDF, YPG, and allied local political councils and parties control more than a quarter of Syria. They defeated ISIS in Kobane, Tabqa, Raqqa, and are now battling the group in its last stronghold in the Hajin area.
Kurds accuse Turkey of silently backing ISIS and attacking Kurdish forces in order to distract from the war against the militant group.
“This direct coordination between the Turkish Army attacks in the north and the attacks of ISIS in the south against our forces led to the temporary stopping of the fight to defeat terror,” the SDF stated on Wednesday.
The force said it considered Turkey’s attacks east of the Euphrates “direct support” from the Turkish state to ISIS.
The SDF called on the international community to condemn Turkey and for their coalition allies to “show a resolute position to deter Turkey.”
Turkey, however, is building up support for a potential ground offensive among its allied Syrian militias.
Turkish forces west of the Euphrates and in Afrin, where they have previously carried out military operations with Syrian proxies, called on Syrian militias who want to join a ground operation to register their names, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.