Global Coalition spokesperson praises SDF efforts amid joint anti-ISIS operation in Syria
Hosheng Hesen – Lucas Chapman – NORTHEASTERN SYRIA (North Press) – In an exclusive statement to North Press, the official spokesperson of Operation Inherent Resolve Myles B. Caggins reiterated that the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS would continue to provide support for the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), amid a massive and widespread joint operation between the two forces aiming to combat ISIS sleeper cells in northern Syria.
Of the Global Coalition support for SDF during the operation, Caggins stated that the Coalition is “providing intelligence. We are using drones to look for [ISIS] in the desert, and we are sharing information with the SDF. This is a partnership we have had for several years, and together we have been successful.”
International coalition forces have supported the fight against ISIS since October 2014 under the name Operation Inherent Resolve, and since this time have provided intelligence, logistical, training, and air support to the Syrian Democratic Forces and their main component, the People’s Protection Units (YPG). This year in particular, the Global Coalition provided anti-riot training and riot gear to the SDF’s counterterrorism forces after ISIS prisoners in Hasakeh attempted to take control of the prison.
Caggins heaped praise on the SDF and their anti-terror operations in northern Syria, noting that “the SDF is totally capable of keeping [ISIS] from resurging. ISIS cannot hold physical territory because of the SDF.” He added that the region’s inhabitants should “remember and honor the martyrs from the SDF, the veterans and the widows, and orphans of the Syrian Democratic Forces.”
The SDF was the leading force responsible for ISIS’ fall in Syria, sacrificing over 13,000 fighters in the battles to regain territory from the terror group until the latter’s final loss in al-Baghouz on March 23, 2019.
Caggins commended the SDF’s commitment to multiculturalism and security stabilization, adding that the “Syrian Democratic Forces continue to prove their commitment to keeping all people safe…Arabs, Kurds, Muslims, Christians, men and women. The SDF is committed to security for people in the region and committed to stomping on [ISIS] remnants.”
Caggins ended his statement by affirming continued coalition support for the SDF’s anti-ISIS operations.
Currently, the SDF and coalition are engaged in a massive and widespread operation in the countrysides of Hasakah and Deir ez-Zor targeting ISIS sleeper cells. The operation entered its third day on Saturday, and SDF Commander-in-Chief Mazloum Abdi tweeted
We achieved successive victories in our campaign against ISIS cells in Deir arZour & Hasakah. ISIS revitalised & increased its brutality after the Turkish invasion & COVID-19 pandemic. The Coalition has a duty to continue support to our forces to eliminate the growing ISIS threat pic.twitter.com/nhanewe22e
— Mazloum Abdî مظلوم عبدي (@MazloumAbdi) June 6, 2020
that the SDF “achieved successive victories” against ISIS sleeper cells. Seven suspected ISIS members were arrested in Deir ez-Zor and Hasakah on Saturday, adding to the dozens of suspects already arrested by SDF during the operation “Deterrence of Terrorism” which began on Thursday.