Turkey’s true target is Kobani – SDF Commander to al-Monitor
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Commander in Chief, Mazloum Abdi, said the “true target” of Turkey’s potential military ground invasion is the symbolic city of Kobani.
Abdi, in an interview with al-Monitor, added Kobani, northern Syria, is “highly symbolic for the Kurds” since it is the place which witnessed battles against Islamic State Organization (ISIS).
On November 20, the cities of Kobani, Derik (al-Malikiyah), and the northern countryside of Aleppo, in addition to other areas on Syrian-Turkish border were targeted by Turkish warplanes, killing 13 people, including civilians and fighters of the SDF, according to a statement released by the SDF.
The Turkish airstrikes also targeted posts of the Syrian government forces, killing 16 soldiers and wounding others.
The Turkish forces and their affiliated armed opposition factions, also known as Syrian National Army (SNA), continue immensely targeting areas in north and northeast Syria with artillery shells, drones and airstrikes.
Abdi pointed out that Turkey wants to take the city with the aim to join the city of Azaz in the north of Aleppo with others it occupied in 2019.
In 2019, Turkey occupied the two cities Sere Kaniye (Ras al-Ain) in north of Hasakah and Tel Abyad in north of Raqqa following a military operation named “Peace Spring”.
The SDF Commander stressed that such a potential military “ground offensive” would destabilize the area and hit efforts to eliminate ISIS.
In response to a question regarding different statements made by Russian and US officials on the Turkish assault, Abdi said “They need to do more.”
He went further, adding the areas that are under Turkish fire such as Kobani and Manbij are Russian-controlled.
Speaking of a possible turn to the Syrian government in this particular time, he said lack of a clear policy by the US for the future of northeast Syria “makes it harder for us to negotiate successfully with Damascus.”
The Syrian government “sees itself as irreplaceable,” he added.
He noted, “Turkey is against the Kurds…wants to destroy our autonomous administration….we take these threats seriously.”
The interviewer raised a question, wondering if Turkey would use militants of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS, formerly al-Nusra Front) in the operation after they took control over Afrin, and the answer from Abdi was that there will be “potential preparations for a jointly coordinated attack against us.”
When asked about Istanbul blast, Abdi revealed to the media for the first time that the Ahlam al-Bashir, who was arrested over planting the bomb, “comes from a family linked to the Islamic State. Three of her brothers died fighting for the Islamic State.”
On Nov. 13, a bomb attack in Istanbul took place, claiming six lives and wounding 80 others and Ankara has accused Kurdish parties to lie behind the explosion. However, the Kurdish parties denied any involvement in the explosion.
He added, after research it was revealed “the attack was perpetrated by Syrian opposition groups operating under Turkey’s control…to lay the ground for the war against us.”
The SDF Commander in Chief concluded, stressing “We are planning to defend our lands against Turkey…inside our lands.”