SDF leader warns against US withdrawal from northeast Syria
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Mazloum Abdi says the withdrawal of US military forces would trigger the resurgence of armed factions, amid the strengthening of ISIS.
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Mazloum Abdi, the commander of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, speaks during a news conference in al-Hasakah, Syria, on November 26, 2022. (AP)
The leader of Kurdish forces controlling northeastern Syria has urged Donald Trump to maintain the US military presence in the region, cautioning that a withdrawal could lead to a resurgence of ISIS.
Mazloum Abdi, commander-in-chief of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), stated that ISIS had gained strength in the desert, acquiring weapons from the ousted Assad regime, while Kurdish forces faced increasing pressure from Turkiye and its Syrian proxies.
"The key factor of stabilization in this area is the US presence on the ground," Abdi told The Guardian, warning that the removal of the 2,000 US troops would trigger the resurgence of multiple factions, including ISIS.
Abdi also revealed that ISIS members were planning attacks on detention centers holding their prisoners, aiming to exploit the preoccupation of Kurdish forces defending their region against Turkiye and its allied Syrian National Army (SNA).
He further expressed his confidence in the President-elect, who would acknowledge the risks of a possible US withdrawal due to the recent "terrorist attacks in the US." Abdi said the attack on New Orleans on New Year's Day was a manifestation of an increasing terrorist threat.
Abdi then emphasized that the future stability and security of this strategic region relied on the continued presence of US forces, warning that their withdrawal could trigger "another chaotic situation," potentially escalating into a civil war due to the numerous factions threatening the Kurds.
Turkiye warns to increase offensives against YPG if demands not met
It is worth noting that Turkiye has warned of a potential cross-border offensive into northeastern Syria if the Kurdish YPG militia does not meet Ankara's demands, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Tuesday. He also called on Syria's new leadership to address the issue, emphasizing the importance of resolving the YPG's presence in the region.
Turkiye considers the YPG, a key component of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), as a terrorist organization linked to the PKK, which has waged an insurgency against the Turkish state for decades. Ankara has repeatedly urged its NATO ally, Washington, to cease support for the group and has conducted multiple military operations against the YPG in northern Syria, securing control over certain areas.
Speaking to CNN Turk, Fidan stated that Turkiye expects the new Syrian administration to take action against the YPG but acknowledged that the transitional period in Damascus could delay progress.
When asked about Turkiye's course of action if the issue remains unresolved, Fidan affirmed that Turkiye would take "whatever is necessary," clarifying that this could include a military operation. However, he expressed confidence in the new Syrian leadership's capability to confront the YPG independently.
The SDF has faced increasing challenges since al-Assad's fall. It continues to oversee prison camps housing ISIS fighters, but Turkiye has proposed that the new Syrian administration assume responsibility for these facilities.
Read more: ISIS resurgence, US troops' future uncertain in Syria
