By: sdf-press.com
Pressure from the United States and Russia has prevented Turkey from launching a new invasion into northern Syria, leader of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Ferhat Abdi Şahin said during an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat that was published on December 7.
Turkey launched an operation against Kurdish forces in Syria and Iraq, codenamed Claw-Sword, on November 20 in response to the November 13 bombing in Istanbul. Ankara believes that the core faction of the SDF, the Kurdish People’s Protection Units, was involved in attack, which claimed the lives of six people and wounded more than 80 others.
So far, Operation Claw-Sword has been limited to air and artillery strikes, despite repeated warnings from senior Turkish officials that the operation could morph into a ground offensive against the SDF in northern Syria.
Şahin, who is known by his nom de guerre Mazloum Abdi, told the London-based newspaper that American and Russian pressure as well as the SDF’s growing military capabilities forced Ankara to put its plans for a new invasion of northern Syria on halt.
“I believe the American pressure on Ankara played a hand to an extent. With time, international pressure also mounted on Ankara. Ankara violated understandings that it had reached with Russia and the US alike. This prompted the major pressure that in turn led to a drop in strikes,” the Kurdish leader said. “The second factor, frankly, is that we, as a military force, had been well prepared. For example, the Kobane region, Manbij and Tell Rifaat were heavily attacked by Turkish jets and artillery, and yet, the SDF did not lose a single member. The Turks did not achieve their desired result.”
Since 2016, Turkey has launched several ground operations against the SDF in northern Syria that have allowed it to control areas along the border.
Responding to a question about a recent meeting with the Russian military command in Syria, Şahin said that Russia is currently standing in a “neutral position” between the SDF and Turkey. According to the leader, Russia is trying to ensure that the 2019 Sochi agreement is being implemented and it is tackling violations when they happen.
“On our end, we have many reservations over Turkey and the many violations it is committing,” Şahin said.
Early on in the crisis, Şahin threatened to set the Syrian-Turkish border aflame if Turkey launch a new ground invasion into northern Syria. The leader also called for more American and Russian pressure on Turkey, a move that appears to be working.
With air and artillery strikes on northern Syria slowing down, the chances of Turkey launching a ground invasion to uproot the SDF from the region are getting slimmer. Ankara will not apparently risk such a move without a green light from the U.S. and Russia.
- U.S. Allies Are Setting The Middle East On Fire
- U.S. Forces Held Rehearsal Exercise With M777 Howitzers In Northeastern Syria
This was sad news.
I had hoped that many more Muslims and Islamists would be killed than new ones would be born.
But if I know the Arabs right, they will continue to kill each other on a smaller scale.
Arabs or Muslims? Idiot.
About 95 percent of Arabs are Muslims. And yes, you must be an idiot if you don’t know that.
Only 20% of Muslims are Arabs. lol
The topic here is the Middle East and not Indonesia, which has 76% Muslims.
Indonesia is working to weaken radical Islam that is trying to gain a foothold in the country.
If they fail to do so, there will be war and misery there too, as it is in the Middle East.
And also you have Muslim name. And you have said that religion in general is bad.
Kurdistan leader says : “The second factor, frankly, is that we, as a military force, had been well prepared.” This can be true, because kurdistan sells stolen petrol of syria and they buying heavy weapons.. i am reading on some newpapers at last days that even kurdistan will buy fighter jets soon.
Where are all these turks who say putin is a bitch but erdogan is not.
Seems he is mone as well. A dog ordered back by the us masters.
MERDolfgan and ITS ‘FALSE FLAG TERRORIST ATTACK’ INHUMAN GENOCIDAL OGRES DUG ONCE AGAIN IN A DUNGHILL …. BETTER UNDER INCHES OF SOIL, ANYWAY! HÊR BÎJI KURD! HÊR BÎJI SURIYA!
But why radical groups like PKK though?
Bijî, not “bîji”
Mazloum Abdi says one wrong. He says that Turkey is failing in its attacks. While their attacks are not that good, the SDF lose many members each time.
Erdogan is a coward. He can’t go beyond what Biden and Putin says. Not Syria or Irak, Erdogan even cant make war with cyprus.
Northy syria wil be North Syria Turkish Republic same as North Cyprus Turkish Republic.. Erdogan have to take North Syria immediately and rename it to North Syria Turkish Republic.. Kurds and SAA every new day deploying heavy weapons.. later will be too late
NORTH CYPRUS TURKISH REPUBLIC = NORTH SYRIAN TURKISH REPUBLIC
There is no such thing as North Cyprus.