Operations with SDF to pursue ISIS fully resume– Pentagon
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryderannounced on Tuesday joint operations with Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to pursue Islamic State Organization (ISIS) in northeast Syria have fully resumed.
Ryder made his words in a press briefing in which he stressed the resumption of the joint operations between the SDF and the US-led Global Coalition to secure the absolute defeat of ISIS.
On Nov. 23, the SDF announced suspending its mission against the ISIS due to the latest Turkish escalation in the SDF-held areas that started on Nov. 20.
Ferhad Shami, head of the SDF Media Center, quoted the forces’ Commander in Chief Mazloum Abdi as saying, “Due to our forces’ preoccupation with addressing the Turkish occupation, they cannot continue their mission of pursuing ISIS cells. Currently, we’re forced to be preoccupied with confronting Turkish aggression.”
Ryder noted, “The partner operations with the Syrian Democratic Forces have resumed in full on December 9.”
He stressed that the aim behind such kind of operations is to “prevent the reconstitution of ISIS.”
On Nov. 20, Turkish air force launched intense airstrikes on all Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES)-held areas on Syrian-Turkish border in addition to bombarding areas which are more than 40 km away from the border such as the Global Coalition military base and Hawl Camp in Hasakah and the village of Makman in the northern countryside of Deir ez-Zor.