The focus for the Syrian Kurdish YPG forces in recent weeks has been on the offensive against the ISIS capital of Raqqa. Before that, however, there were reports of intermittent clashes with Turkish-backed rebels in Aleppo Province. Those reports never got resolved, but stopped being reported for awhile.
The most recent reports out of Aleppo, however, suggests they never really stopped, and that the US-backed Kurds are trading fire with the Turkey-backed rebels on the pretty much daily basis, and have been for weeks on end.
Neither side really has the forces to readily overrun the other,but that hasn’t stopped artillery shells flying back and forth across the frontier, with villages close to the front lines pretty much uninhabitable because of the shooting.
The US has desperately tried to prevent fighting between the two sides further east, positioning troops to block any advance against the heart of Kurdish territory. In this area, however, US forces aren’t present, and the fighting continues at a low boil with no end in sight.
Can we wise up already to the games played by Kurds, and neocons eho will findvthe way to put oul on the flames. Aftin Kurds in Aleppo and Idlib — are cut off from Kurds on Iraqi border. They tried to take over ISIS held border towns, but Turkey put a swift end to it. From Jarabulus to Al -Bab there is a cortidor from Turkidh border to the Aleppo countryside controlled by Syrian government. Clear or not — this corridor is defended by Turkey, Russia and Syrian army. Nobody wants to see Kurds expand into Arab areas and ethnically cleanse towns, as they did in Manbij.
So, “rebels” are fighting Kurds — a politically the least complicated option. It may look clever — to try to stir up the otherwise quiet corner if Syria, but it risks bringing on backlash against Kurds, especially as locals in Raqqa region are resisting Kurdish takeover. Should it become a problem, Affin risks of being overrun. They better ghink what they wish for.
Our schools are obviously not the best in the world.