Syrian Democratic Forces halt joint ops with US-led coalition after Turkish fire
The Syrian Democratic Forces, a US-backed group that helped defeat ISIS extremists in Syria, has stopped all joint counter-terrorism operations as a result of Turkish bombardment on its area of control, a spokesman said Friday.
Turkey has ramped up its shelling and airstrikes on northern Syria in recent weeks and is preparing a ground invasion against Syrian Kurdish fighters that it dubs terrorists but which make up the bulk of the US-supported SDF.
The SDF has long warned that fighting off a new Turkish incursion would divert resources away from protecting a prison holding ISIS fighters or targeting ISIS sleeper cells still waging hit-and-run attacks in Syria.
For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
Aram Henna told Reuters that “all coordination and joint counter-terrorism operations with the coalition” as well as “all the joint special operations we were carrying out regularly” had had been halted.
Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Patrick Ryder earlier told reporters that operations against ISIS had not stopped.
SDF head Mazloum Abdi earlier this week told Reuters he wanted a “stronger” message from Washington after seeing unprecedented Turkish deployments along the border.
“We are still nervous. We need stronger, more solid statements to stop Turkey,” he said. “Turkey has announced its intent and is now feeling things out. The beginning of an invasion will depend on how it analyses the positions of other countries.”
Read more:
Turkey calls for US understanding ahead of possible Syria operation
Also Read
-
Germany calls on Turkey to refrain from incursion into northern Syria
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Wednesday called on Turkey to refrain from a ground invasion of northern Syria and military strikes in ... Middle East -
Russia sends reinforcements to northern Syria amid fears of Turkish incursion
Russia deployed troop reinforcements Wednesday to an area of northern Syria controlled by Kurdish fighters and government troops, residents and a war ... Middle East -
Turkish ground op in Syria would ‘jeopardize’ anti-ISIS gains: Pentagon
A Turkish ground operation in Syria would “severely jeopardize” gains made in the war against the ISIS extremist group, the Pentagon said on Tuesday, ... World News
