YPG statement follows Ankara’s suggestion that it may deploy ground forces in northwest Syria
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In an escalation of the multi-sided conflict in northern Syria, the Kurdish militia YPG has said that it will take territory from Turkish-supported rebels.
Commander Sipan Hemo told a Kurdish newspaper that the YPG intends to “liberate” the area between Azaz, in the northwest near the Turkish border, and Jarablus on the border in north-central Syria.
Hemo did not give a timeline or details of plans to take the area, occupied by Turkey-backed rebel faction last autumn as they clear the Islamic State from the border.
The comments were distributed on social media by Naser Haj Mansour, a senior official in the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, led by the YPG.
Hemo’s remarks follows skirmishes and Turkey’s warnings of a possible ground offensive earlier this week. On Tuesday, as Turkish artillery shelled across the border — claiming that it was responding to YPG attacks — claims circulated that Turkey is planning to deploy forces at a base in northwest Syria. “Military sources” said, “We are likely to kick off the operation to sweep terrorists from Afrin [the Kurdish canton in the northwest] this weekend.”
See Syria Daily: A Turkish Garrison v. Kurdish Militia in the Northwest?
The attacks have not yet developed but Turkey did send troops, vehicles, and equipment into the area between Azaz and Jarablus.
Mehmud Berxwedan, commander of YPG forces in Afrin, responded on Friday, “Turkey will be plunged into a swamp, politically and militarily – there will be an historical resistance against Turkish occupation in Afrin and Shahba regions.”
US Envoy Meets Kurdish Officials Near Raqqa
The Turkish warnings and YPG response cause further complications for the US, which is allied with the SDF — and thus the YPG — in the offensive to drive ISIS from its central position in Syria, the city of Raqqa. On Wednesday and Thursday, American envoy Brett McGurk met local officials in closed-door sessions near the city.
Kurdish outlets reported the meetings as they occurred, whlie the US-led coalition confirmed it on Friday:
We are working intensively with myriad local entities to prepare for this transition though, as Mr. McGurk noted throughout his visit, the battle to liberate the city has just begun. He also credited the bravery and sacrifice of the Syrian Democratic Forces [SDF] in their ongoing operations against ISIS.
He also witnessed first-hand the humanitarian and stabilization assistance that is underway in liberated areas north of Raqqa, and held intensive discussions with local leaders and councils on post-liberation governance issues. Mr. McGurk also met with the Raqqa Civilian Council to discuss stabilization efforts in post-ISIS Raqqa.
Turkey considers the Syrian Kurdistan Democratic Party (PYD) and its YPG militia to be part of the Turkish Kurdish insurgency PKK. Washington lists the PKK as a “terrorist” organization, but has removed any references on US Government websites of YPG connections with the Turkish group.
McGurk with Kurdish officials:
Islamic State Tries to Fight Back in Raqqa
The Islamic State tried on Friday to fight back in Raqqa, seeking to regain the industrial area taken by the Syrian Democratic Forces earlier this week.
The SDF acknowledged intense clashes but said it still held the district.
The Kurdish-led force has been advancing from both the west and east of the city, claiming several districts. On Thursday, it said it completed the encirclement of the city by taking the last part of the south bank of the Euphrates River, south of the city.
Report: Russian Mercenaries Filmed Beating Man With Sledgehammer, Burying Another
Video is circulating which purports to show armed Russian-speaking men beating one detainee with a sledgehammer, accusing him of being an Islamic State member, and burying another up to his neck in earth or concrete.
The Russian-based Conflict Intelligence Team concludes that the footage shows Russian mercenaries of the Wagner Group in the desert in eastern Syria.
Wagner mercenaries have been operating at gas fields near Palmyra which Russian companies hope to develop under agreements with the Assad regime.
One of the fighters in the video wears a patch with a Russian translation of a quote “I’m gonna hurt you really, really badly”, from the comic book series and film Suicide Squad.
The song in the video, “I’m Russian Spetsnaz”, is about the Chechen wars, in which many Wagner fighters participated.
UN: 440,000 Displaced Inside Syria Return to Homes
The UN refugee agency said on Friday that 440,000 internally displaced people have returned to their homes in Syria.
UNHCR spokesman Andrej Mahecic said most returned to areas of Aleppo, Hama, Homs, and Damascus:
This is a significant trend and a significant numbe.
Most of these people are returning to check on properties, to find out about family members….They have their own perceptions about the security situation, real or perceived improvements in areas they are returning to.
However, only 31,000 of about 5 million refugees have re-entered Syria.
An estimated 6.3 million people are still internally displaced.
