’Coalition remains a strong partner with the Syrian Democratic Forces’ – Coalition Spokesperson Col. Caggins

Coalition press conference – North Press

Lucas Chapman

 

At a press conference at the coalition base in Rimelan, northern Syria, on Tuesday, the official spokesperson for the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS Colonel Myles B. Caggins reiterated the coalition’s commitment to partnering with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to ensure the enduring defeat of the Islamic State (ISIS).

 

The conference began with members of the SDF gifting Coalition forces’ members with traditional scarves and patches of the Kurdish-led all female fighting force, the YPJ.

 

“The Coalition, with our advisers, advanced technical military equipment, our drones, and our ability to collect intelligence…makes the SDF more capable against ISIS,” Caggins said of the assistance that the Coalition has provided to the SDF since their partnership, which has been ongoing for at least six years.

 

Caggins also mentioned the recent Deterrence of Terrorism operation carried out between the SDF and Global Coalition forces in order to dislodge and eradicate ISIS sleeper cells in eastern Syria. He took a moment of silence for those killed in operations against ISIS, as well as “the wounded warriors and their families.”

 

In response to a North Press correspondent’s question regarding the implications of the Caesar Act on North and East Syria, Caggins replied, “sanctions from the United States…are not directed to harming civilians. These are directed towards businesses or nation-states that are helping Bashar al-Assad get rich.” He added that the Coalition has worked closely with local businesses and assisted with civilian projects in North and East Syria in order to boost the local economy.

 

International military cooperation with the Kurdish-led YPG, which spearheads the Syrian Democratic Forces, has been ongoing since at least 2015, when Coalition member states began supplying the forces with weapons, ammunition, and other equipment. Since this time, the Coalition has given logistical, military, and intelligence support to the SDF in many areas.