SOHR: US-backed Syrian forces warn of new Turkish attack, Russia is concerned

 

The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said on Thursday that a new offensive by Turkey in northern Syria would create a humanitarian crisis and undermine its campaign against Islamic State.

SDF Commander Mazlum Abdi called on all sides to “avoid any new tragedy and support de-escalation” and warned that the new attack would further increase momentum in the 11-year-old conflict in Syria.

Turkey, which has conducted four operations in northern Syria since 2016, has vowed to launch a new offensive against Kurdish YPG militias, led by the SDF, which controls part of the territory on the Turkish border.

 

While Turkey views Kurdish-led forces in Syria as terrorists and a threat to national security, the United States views the SDF as an ally that helped oust the Islamic State from vast areas of Syria.

Turkey is one of the few states involved in the war in Syria where Russia supports the government.

Russia, which has expressed concern, said it hoped Turkey would “refrain from actions that could lead to a dangerous deterioration of the already difficult situation in Syria.”

A Foreign Ministry spokesman told the Interfax news agency that if Ankara carried out the attack, it would be a direct violation of Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and provoke further escalation of tensions.

Washington, whose support for the SDF has long been a point of tension with NATO ally Turkey, has expressed concern that any new attack would threaten U.S. troops – who are in Syria – and undermine regional stability.

During a visit to the Turkish city of Hatay on the Syrian border, the US ambassador to the UN reiterated US opposition to any military action.

“We think nothing should be done to break the ceasefire lines that have already been established,” said Linda Thomas Greenfield.

He added that any such action would not only increase suffering, but also the number of internally displaced persons, including those who might try to cross into Turkey.

Deadly violence

President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that Turkey would liberate Syria’s Tal Rifaat and Manbij from terrorists, confirmed the targets of the attack, and said it would continue in other regions. Read more

Russian military helicopters have been making unusually frequent flights to the northern territories owned by the government or the SDF over the past week, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a joint organization reporting on the conflict.

On the ground, violence between the Syrian sides has escalated. But sources on both sides say they have not seen major military movements.

The SDF-linked Manbij Military Council said one of its fighters was killed while repelling an attempt by Turkish-backed fighters to infiltrate.

Two of the attacking forces were killed, said Sharfan Darwish, his spokesman.

No comment was made by Turkish-backed groups on this side. Reuters could not independently confirm the incident.

On Wednesday, three civilians and one fighter were killed in a rocket attack on Tel Abyad, a border town captured by Turkish forces and their Syrian allies in 2019, the observatory said.

The observatory said the missiles were fired from areas where both SDF and government forces are operating. The rebel National Army claimed responsibility for the SDF. A comment to the SDF spokesperson could not be reached immediately.

Turkey views the YPG as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which has been waging an uprising since 1984 in which more than 40,000 people were killed.

Western governments, including the United States and the European Union, have branded the PKK a terrorist organization.