US Department of State stresses support of SDF
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – On Sunday, the US Department of State stressed that they will continue to support the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the fight against ISIS and support stability in the region.
The US Embassy in Damascus posted on its official account on Facebook that Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Joey Hood contacted their partners the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Saturday, and stressed the US commitment of the campaign against ISIS and stability in the region.
On July 10, Hood stressed that the US forces will continue to work with the SDF to defeat ISIS.
ISIS cells are still deployed in the region, where the SDF arrested 18 people accused of cooperating with ISIS and Turkish intelligence in theAbu Khashab area in the western countryside of Deir ez-Zor on Friday.
Fears of military escalation in northeast Syria by Turkish forces and pro-Turkish Syrian armed factions was discussed, the post said.
For three weeks, the countryside of Tel Tamr and Abu Rasin, north of Hasakah, have been witnessing intense bombing of the Turkish forces, which resulted in the killing of a child and a woman and left massive material damage to the residents’ houses and vital service installations.
On May 16, Hood traveled to northeast Syria, accompanied by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and the Special Representative for Syria Aimee Cutrona, Deputy Special Envoy for Syria David Brownstein, and Director of the National Security Council for Iraq and Syria at the White House Zahra Bell.
The delegation met top officials in the SDF and the Syrian Democratic Council and senior members of the Council, as well as tribal notables in Raqqa, in addition to military figures from the Global Coalition and humanitarian actors.
At the time, Hood stressed the commitment of the United States to cooperation and coordination in the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, the continuation of stability in northeast Syria, and the delivery of stabilization assistance to liberated areas to ensure the complete defeat of ISIS.
He also stressed his country’s commitment to support all efforts aimed at a political solution to the Syrian conflict.