Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: At least two soldiers killed by anti-tank missile fired at Israeli army forces in the Gaza Strip
Local Syrian sources: Mortar shells fell on more than nine villages in the Sweida countryside
Local Syrian sources: Dozens of dead and wounded have arrived at Sweida hospitals as a result of ongoing clashes at several locations in the western Sweida countryside
Local sources: Civilians, including children and women, were injured in the al-Maqous neighborhood of Sweida, in Syria, as a result of ongoing clashes
Israeli media outlet: Security incident reported in the Gaza Strip
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson: No new date or venue has been set for the meeting between Araghchi and Witkoff, and no negotiations will take place until the outcome is guaranteed
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police
Palestinian platforms: The IOF detonated a booby-trapped robot east of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation

Calm ensues in northern Syria as Turkey wages military operation

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Al Mayadeen
  • 15 Dec 2022 23:45
  • 1 Shares
5 Min Read

The Syrian Democratic Forces deny there being any initiatives from Russia or the United States to bring calm to the Syrian north.

  • x
  • US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) militants are seen in Deir Ezzor, Syria, May 1, 2018
    US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) militants are seen in Deir Ezzor, Syria, May 1, 2018

Cautious calm prevails in the areas under the US-backed so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) a month into Turkey's Operation Claw-Sword targeting Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in both Iraq and Syria and the threats of a land offensive on the cities and bordering towns that are under the control of the Kurdish forces.

"The Asayish forces that withdrew from the contact lines with the Turkish military and that had been continuously shelled during the past few days have begun returning to their headquarters after SDF assured them that the Turkish forces have made a U-turn on launching the ground operation," people familiar with the matter told Al Mayadeen.

"SDF informed its leadership that there were no discussions regarding any international party making peace initiatives like those Turkish media is reporting on, especially those regarding the relocation of SDF's forces," the sources added. "The discussions with Russia did not touch on that matter either, and the news being published by Turkish media is false. The situation is still the same as it has been since the Turkish invasion that kicked off in 2019."

Through these operations, Turkey aims to exert pressure on both the United States and Russia to extract their approval to carry out a new military operation against the SDF-controlled areas after the Kurdish party was accused by Ankara of being behind the bomb attack in Istiklal Street in Taksim Square in Istanbul. 

Ankara is also trying to take advantage of the attack in Istanbul to carry out a ground operation against the SDF and to gnaw at more areas under its control, amid initial indications of Turkish intentions to attack villages and towns in rural Manbij and Tal Rifaat. 

"The joint operations between SDF and the global coalition, which had previously stopped due to the developments on the borders, are now back in full throttle," SDF said in its announcement, according to the sources. The operations "will increase in size during the coming days."

Meanwhile, SDF clarified that there were no changes on the ground for the Syrian Arab Army with regard to the mobilization or the number of border guards in eastern or northern Syria.

"The personnel that entered the area was to fill in a gap created by the direct Turkish bombardment of the Damascus government forces, which killed more than 35 Syrian soldiers," the sources added.

It is likely that SDF issued this statement to try and uplift the spirits of its leadership and members, as well as indirectly signal that it received assurances from the United States that the latter would prevent Turkey from attacking the towns and cities in northern Syria.

Related News

Syrian forces launch security operation in Sweida, bombing villages

Russia in talks over military bases in Syria with new government

"The Syrian Arab Army deployed Division 25 throughout the week in several areas in the SDF-controlled Aleppo countryside to pave the way for a new agreement on the area," others familiar with the matter told Al Mayadeen.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged on Thursday to work with Syria and Russia in the fight against terrorism.

"Currently, we want to take a step with Syria and Russia, as a trio. For this, first, our intelligence organizations should come together, then our defense ministers and, then our foreign ministers should meet," Erdogan said.

Erdogan divulged that during a telephone conversation with Putin he offered to hold a meeting of leaders of Turkey, Russia, and Syria.

The Turkish President emphasized that the PKK, which Turkey considers a terrorist organization, is active in Syria, particularly in its northern regions, and warned that if nations like the US continue to send "thousands of truck-loads" of weapons, ammunition, tools, and equipment to terrorists in Syria, then Ankara will take matters into its own hands.

On Monday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusogly said Ankara was ready to cooperate with Damascus on counterterrorism and the repatriation of Syrian refugees if Syria acts "realistically".

"We are holding talks with the Syrian regime through intelligence channels," Cavusoglu said while speaking before parliament during a discussion on the Foreign Ministry's budget.

Turkish presidency spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin revealed earlier that there are periodic direct contacts between the Turkish intelligence agencies and their Syrian counterparts for the sake of national interests.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hinted in November at the possibility of reconsidering relations with Damascus after the 2023 elections in Turkey.

Regarding a possible meeting with Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad under Russian mediation, the Turkish President said this matter can be evaluated when the time is right, pointing out that there was no eternal resentment or quarreling in politics.

Meanwhile, Turkish Justice and Development Party (AKP) member and former MP Orhan MiroÄŸlu announced earlier in the month that Damascus rejected Ankara's request to arrange a meeting between Presidents Erdogan and Al-Assad.

  • Syria
  • United States
  • Turkey
  • Iraq
  • Russia
  • SDF

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS