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On November 3, the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) released a report providing details of operations of the YPG and its female faction, the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), in October.
The report claimed that YPG/YPJ forces had carried out 19 “military operations” against the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) and Turkish-backed militant groups in the Syrian region of Afrin. These attacks reportedly resulted in the death of 3 TAF servicemen and 39 militants. 10 militants were repotedly injured and 8 vehicles were destroyed.
The YPG also accused the TAF of icreasing “border violations” meaning TAF strikes on YPG targets near the Syrian town of Ayn al-Arab (also known as Kobani) and in the nearby areas. According to the YPG, 2 members of Erka Xweparastin [another YPG-affilated Kurdish group] and a 6 years old girl named Sara Mustafa were killed. One Erka Xweparastin fighter and 4 civilians were reportedly wounded.
The report added that the YPG had reponded to the TAF attacks using its legitimate “self-defense” right. The YPG did not clarify if the TAF had a right to respond to YPG attacks in Afrin.
The ending of the report is dedicated to “anti-terror” activities of the YPG’s Anti-Terror Unions (YAT) and Special Operations Team (SOT). First of all the YPG accused, Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT) of cooperating with ISIS to stage terrorist attacks in the YPG-held area in northeastern Syria.
The report claimed that YPG forces prevented 13 terrorist attacks, including 3 planned by terrorist cells affiliated with the MIT. The YAT and SOT carried out a total of 34 operations and detained 90 ISIS members. Kurdish forces seized 20 AK-47 automatic rifles, a pistol, a pair of binoculars and ammunition.
It’s also interestng that the YPG admited only 4 combat casualties during operations against ISIS in October. This shows the real intensity of the “large-scale” YPG operation against ISIS in the Euphrates Valley before it was halted because of TAF strikes on targets near Kobani in late October.
