Türkiye prepares for military operation against SDF in Syria

Türkiye prepares for military operation against SDF in Syria
December 17, 2024, 11:00 am

الجيش التركي في سوريا \ ليفانت نيوز

The Wall Street Journal reported that U.S. officials indicated Turkey is nearing the execution of a military operation in Syria aimed at Kurdish areas. Sources stated that Turkish artillery and forces have heavily deployed near the city of Kobani.

U.S. officials expressed concerns about the possibility of a Turkish incursion into Kurdish regions, while a reporter from Al Arabiya stated that reports regarding the Turkish buildup are inaccurate, and that Ankara's military mobilization is within the framework of normal circumstances.

In a related development, the media center of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) confirmed that U.S. mediation efforts to establish a permanent ceasefire in Manbij and Kobani have failed due to Turkey's obstinacy. The statement mentioned that the Turkish side did not show acceptance of the key points in the U.S. mediation, which included relocating the fighters of the Manbij Military Council to safe areas in northeast Syria.

Regarding the Kurds' position, Obaidah Arnout, spokesman for the political affairs administration in Syria, confirmed that the Kurds are part of the Syrian people, but the interim government will not permit any faction to exist outside its control. He stated: "The Kurds represent a component of the Syrian people, and we are committed to protecting their rights, but we will not allow any part of Syria to separate from the control of the Damascus government."

According to the SDF, American mediation efforts to secure a ceasefire in the Kurdish areas of northern Syria have failed, indicating Turkey's refusal to share essential negotiation points.

This comes amid escalating pressures on the Kurds since the overthrow of the Assad regime on December 8, as the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army succeeded in taking control of Manbij after intense battles.

Despite being NATO allies, the United States and Turkey are opposing each other through their proxies in this conflict. According to experts, Turkey aims to push Kurdish militias east of the Euphrates River, paving the way for further advances toward the city of Ain al-Arab (Kobani).

In a statement, Rami Abdul Rahman, director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, confirmed that Turkey and its militias are preparing to launch an attack on Kobani, warning that this could happen soon. Despite the close relationship between the Syrian Democratic Forces and the United States in the fight against ISIS, Turkey classifies the militia as a branch of the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and considers it a terrorist organization.

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