This should avoid tensions between Turkey and Kurdish militias in Syria, said US Secretary of Defense James Mattis on Wednesday in Washington. The Washington-backed Arab-Kurdish rebel alliance of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) should be able to focus on the fight against the jihadist militia „Islamic State“ (IS).
The American observation posts would be clearly marked „so that the Turks know where they are,“ Mattis said. He stressed that the establishment of the posts was agreed with Ankara.
The Syrian Democratic Forces, whose backbone is the Kurdish People’s Defense Units (YPG), announced about ten days ago to resume their offensive against ISIS. Previously, the Alliance had temporarily suspended its fight against the jihadist militia following a Turkish attack on Alliance positions in northern Syria. The United States supports the Syrian Democratic Forces while Turkey is fighting Kurdish militias.
