Fresh off of discussions between US and Turkish officials about a joint operation in the ISIS capital of Raqqa, and Turkish statements that Raqqa is the next destination for their invasion force in northern Syria, Kurdish YPG officials are openly talking about fighting against Turkey if they do so.
Turkey’s invasion of Syria, which began in August, came with the intention of stopping the Kurds from taking any more land away from ISIS, and the two sides have clashed intermittently since then, usually with Turkish airstrikes hitting Kurdish forces.
Now, Kurdish forces are saying they remain committed to their offensive against Raqqa, and that Turkey’s forces “will not be allowed near” Raqqa, saying that “there will be clashes,” if Turkish troops attempt to follow through on the promised advances.
At the same time, Kurdish officials expressed confidence that the US military aid would continue to flow to them, even if it is used in fighting against NATO member Turkey. This confidence may be unwarranted, as the US is considering sending its own ground troops to Syria, and might decide they no longer need the Kurds.
Hmm. Syrian Kurds DO NOT LIVE IN RAQQA, nor in any of other larger towns of Raqqa governorate. Or, rather, they do, but as a small minority. So, on what basis are they claiming it? Their heads got swollen with Hillary’s promises, as well as getting away with ethnic cleansing at Manbij with US blessing.
Now, there is a new group of Arab fighters being formed in and around Hassakah, the town that Kurds in a truly surprise raid took (most of any way) from Syrian Government. They are going to fight Kurds ambitions to spread on their towns.
It was with a nod from Obama, to insure that there are no government-controlled towns in the “Kurdish” region.
That is all Syria needs. One more group of people fighting the other. This is altogether our mess, as Kurds would have been satisfied to cooperate with Damascus for their common defense. But ever since US offered the sky, independence, larger and connected territory — it created another monster in the region. Now, they cannot connect, because Turkish troops are in the middle. But they are apparently still trying to expand their territory in Raqqa region. Not good.
Once again, the Kurds are getting schnooked by Uncle Sam. By relying on the American Empire they are actively delegitimizing what is otherwise one of the most promising anti-statist revolutions in decades. They should stay away from Raqqa too. It’s a trap. They don’t need it. They’re stretching they’re resources way too thin. They should focus on solidifying their gains and making peace with Assad. The US will always side with the Ottomans, even if it means genocide, and it has before. Just ask the Armenians.