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fullscreen Stock image of SDF combatant. Photo: Baderkhan Ahmad/AP/TT
The Kurdish-led SDF, which controls large parts of northern and northeastern Syria, says that a counteroffensive against the Ankara-backed SNA militia alliance was launched on Tuesday.
The aim is to take back areas near Syria’s northern border with Turkey, according to the SDF.
Ruken Jamal, spokesperson for the Kurdish SDF-allied YPG militia’s female wing, YPJ, says their fighters are about seven miles from the border town of Manbij in northern Syria.
The city is currently controlled by the SNA (Syrian National Army), which has close ties to Turkey. The SDF reported on Monday fighting near the city.
Clashes between Kurdish forces and the SNA have escalated there since Bashar al-Assad fell earlier in December.
The UK-based conflict monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) states that the SDF has retaken four villages near a strategically important dam in the area. According to SOHR, tens of people from both sides have been killed since the fighting escalated.
“Syria is in a new phase and discussions are ongoing about the country’s future,” says Jamal according to AP.
“Through its attacks, Turkey is trying to distract us with fighting and shut us out of the negotiations in Damascus,” she continues.
The SNA was involved in the lightning offensive that, under the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, overthrew the dictator al-Assad, but has since continued to fight against the SDF, which is considered one of Syria’s key actors going forward.
Turkey links the SDF with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which is labeled a terrorist by Ankara.
FACTS Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)
The Syrian Democratic Forces, SDF, have made up a large part of the resistance against the IS terrorist movement in Syria. The SDF is dominated by the Kurdish YPG militia.
The YPG (People’s Defense Units) is the armed wing of the PYD (Democratic Union Party), which is the largest political party among Kurds in Syria.
Turkey equates the YPG and PYD with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which is labeled a terrorist by Turkey, the EU and the US after taking up arms against the Turkish state in the struggle for independence.
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