On Saturday, artillery fire tore through a hospital in the north Syrian rebel-held city of Afrin. The attack killed at least 18 people, including a rebel commander, and wounded 23 others. Reports are that several parts of town, including the hospital, were hit in the shelling.
There were calls for an independent investigation into the attack, and no claims of responsibility. Afrin is held by Turkish-backed rebels, however, and it didn’t take long for Turkish media to opine on the matter.
Turkish public broadcaster TRT World labeled the incident “a YPG/PKK terrorist attack.” Afrin was a district contested between Turkey and the Kurds early in the war, and it is unsurprising that Turkey would blame them in this case.
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), an organization tied deeply to the YPG, denied involvement in the attack. Rebels noted that the area had been under attack before, and similarly blamed the YPG for it.
I feel that it’s not going to be long before they blame this on the Syrian government. The western MSM left it vague enough to play the “atrocity” card once again. At the same time, the Syrian people are marching against the “Syrian Democratic Forces” in cities they occupy with US support. That’s not news worthy because it goes against the US “narrative.” And by the way, anyone else asking how a military force can be “democratic?”
Turkey is right. The ONLY entity that stands to profit are Kurds.
The article is confusing . Afrin is no longer YPG held. SDF —the American concoction to feign “Syrian” group, but is hundred percent Kurdish.
Ever since Biden took control, Kurds are back in favor. And mysterious “desert” ISIS makes an alpearance to sabotage government held territory. Biden team met with YPG — a bonafide branch of PKK. In their offices while still in power in Afrin — they had pictures of PKK leaders.
But YPG has been kicked out of power when Turkey occupied Afrin. Population wanted Afrin to rejoin Syrian government territory. It should have been easy — there were NO US supported Kurdish SDF in Afrin. But YPG established a border to Syrian government controlled territory — so Syrians with homes in Afrin needed YPG visa to get back to Afrin if they travelled to Givernment held areas.
This is why Turkey so easily took Afrin. YPG is not supported. YPG made money smuggling PKK arms across Afrin to Idlib. It is Western supplied arms PKK smuggles from Turkey — and delivered to Western supported HTS.
Now, they are blocked by Turkey from one side and Government from the other.
Biden is reviving Hillary Clinton plan — put support behind Kurds.
But here is the problem. Kurds actually no longer control their own majority populated areas. After Trump pullout — Kobane and every area populated by Kurds has been under government control. But — over Turkey’s objections — Syrian government left Kurds in charge of local functions.
Damascus will have problems once US supplies Kurds with weapons and intelligence. They will start engaging government troops — in their own populated areas! When government responds — the outcry will be massive.
This one in Afrin is to challenge Turkey — a sweet set up, as Damascus always plays tactical ambivalence — supporting Kurdish population but not supporting YPG.
It is too bad Damascus did not act forcefully against YPG and SDF when it had a chance, as Trump abandoned them.
Of course YPG is behind attack on hospital. Who else? Why pick hospital? And the wounded YPG commander was exactly where? Not in hospital, I never heard that being clear.
Having read back then when Turkey occupied Afrin — that health care was appalling under YPG, and that Turkey had to bring in manpower and equipment to open medical centers. I am wondering if the attack targeted one of those.
Keep in mind that Turkey has climbed up a notch on our enemy list.