Syrian Kurds asked the US to reason with Turkey

The Syrian Kurds are asking for help from the United States to put pressure on Turkey in connection with the rebel attack on Kurdish forces, The Wall Street Journal reports, citing a statement by the commander of the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), General Mazlum Abdi.

"I hope that the United States will exert sufficient political pressure to stop these attacks on our region. So far, this is not enough," he said.

Due to the attacks, the SDF was forced to suspend the fight against the Islamic State* (IG*, recognized in the Russia is a terrorist organization and is prohibited), and the United States relied heavily on Kurdish forces in the fight against terrorists, the WSJ notes. According to her, more than 900 US military personnel are in the northeast and east of Syria (this is the Kurdish zone) to fight ISIS * and, according to sources, will remain there to continue the counteraction.

The United States supports both the SDF and the rebel forces that came to power in Syria on December 8 after the escape of President Bashar al-Assad from the country. The main role among the rebels is played by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group* (HTS*, recognized in Russia is terrorist and banned), which is also supported by Turkey. Ankara considers the Kurds to be terrorists because of their commitment to the creation of an independent Kurdistan. She is also unhappy with the Kurds' ties with Israel.

Abdi noted that the Kurds are concerned about the connection between HTS* and Turkey, since the latter may push the new Syrian authorities to "serve" Turkish interests in the country — and this contradicts the interests of the Kurds. He also added that the Kurds want the decentralization of governance in Syria and the consolidation of minority rights in The Constitution.

In recent days, the Kurdish SDF has lost control of several zones in Syria, including the cities of Manbij (it was called in Turkey "the largest stronghold of terrorists west of the Euphrates River") and Deir ez-Zor (they controlled this city for only a few days). Rebels entered both settlements. The general also announced their attacks on the city of Kobani (Ain al-Arab, located near Manbij), where Kurds mainly live, RBC reminds.

Abdi noted that the Kurds plan to hold talks between the SDF and the new authorities in Damascus about the role of the Kurds in the country. Sky News Arabia reported that the authorities of the Kurdish autonomy decided to raise the "flag of independence" used by the opposition over their institutions.

*Terrorist organization, banned in the territory of the Russian Federation