Mazloum Abdi expresses concerns over Syria becoming US-Iran battleground
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Commander in Chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Mazloum Abdi, said on Tuesday that they do not want Northeast Syria region to become a battlefield between the United States and Iranian-backed militias.
This came during an exclusive interview with al-Monitor. “… we do not want our region to become a battlefield between the United States and Iran-backed militias, and we have told them that,” Abdi said.
Abdi added that the Iranian-backed militias “are not only attacking US bases.” He pointed out that they have attacked them and injured several fighters of the SDF.
“An Iranian kamikaze drone attacked an SDF ammunition depot in Deir Ezzor,” Abdi said. “Several of our forces were injured in that attack, and it caused huge material damage.”
Regarding the goal of the attacks launched by the Iranian militias on the U.S. bases in both Syria and Iraq, the SDF commander said that Iran wants the U.S. forces to get out of the entire region. “It is one of their main goals, as it is for the Syrian regime and for Turkey,” he said. “If the Americans leave Syria, they will have to leave Iraq and vice versa.” However, he indicated that “They [the Americans] have told us that they will not leave.”
Abdi indirectly criticized the stance of the U.S. regarding the Turkish attacks on Northeast Syria. He said the U.S. stance causes the people of Northeast Syria to lose faith in the U.S.
“We are extremely critical of the weakness the United States is displaying certainly with regard to the attacks coming from Turkey,” General Abdi said. “This stance is causing our people to lose faith in the United States.”
The SDF Commander in Chief mentioned that by defeating ISIS and losing more than 11,000 of their fighters, they “not only protected ourselves but [also] the rest of the world — from Europe to the Sahel where Daesh is still active.”
“We should be supported, not attacked,” Mazloum Abdi, SDF Commander in Chief concluded.