The Turkish Syrian National Army has been held off by the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces on several fronts after its planned offensive against the Kurdish forces failed to gain any ground. Kurdish forces are now retaliating by launching counter-attacks on Turkish-backed forces in Deir-Ezzor and other areas. The SDF had previously withdrew from Manbij after Deir Ezzor after having captured them briefly.
Kurdish armed forces were told by the government of Damascus to lay down their weapons and discuss integration plans with the new Syrian army. Syrian rebel forces are currently being integrated into the official Syrian army as the government ramps up its weapons collection from armed groups. With the Kurdish armed forces refusing to disarm, the question remains whether the Kurds are currently trying to establish their own independent state.
SDF commander Mazloum Abdi has given no official indication that the Kurds are planning an independent state, but has offered the Syrian government to hand over the Kobani border with Turkey to the US forces. U.S. forces are present in northern Syria, providing security aid to Kurdish armed forces and safeguarding oil fields and other critical infrastructure.
Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan has described Kurdish armed groups with Turkey’s border s a security issue and the European Union is supporting Turkey’s demand to the Kurds to lay down their weapons. Germany is also supporting Turkey’s position, while France is taking a more pro-Kurdish approach.
Turkey had hopes that the SNA would be capable to push back against the SDF, but its heavy losses in combat and its failure to make any headway has left President Erdogan fuming and threatening the Kurds with an invasion.
Newsroom
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