US Gen. McKenzie in northern Syria: We prefer turkey not to intervene in northeastern Syria
Northern Syria – North-Press Agency
General Kenneth F. McKenzie, the commander of the United States Central Command, has stated today in a high-level US delegation visit to Northern Syria, that they would prefer Turkey not to intervene in the eastern Euphrates, stressing that they would remain in north and east of Syria until the Syrian Democratic Forces are secured from the threats of the Islamic State (ISIS).
General McKenzie statements came after a meeting with General Mazloum Abdi, the Commander-in-Chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces, and some other military leaders in northern Syria, this afternoon.
General McKenzie indicated that their discussions focused on empowering the local security to prevent the return of the Islamic State, pointing out that local empowerment would be through eliminating ISIS terrorist sleeper cells and their local leaders.
The Turkish intervention
The U.S. General spoke about the Turkish threats, saying: “We prefer Turkey not to interfere”, indicating that there would be consequences in case of Turkish intervention, while confirming the Turkish fears by some activities in north and east Syria, as they are trying to configure the situation so that it wouldn’t take the Turkish forces to intervene in northern Syria.
General McKenzie noted as U.S. administration, they are trying to remove the Turkish fears by fighting the Islamic State and working to pacify the Turkish side regarding its national security and help the other side, the SDF, to fight ISIS.
Security of the North
In the same context, Gen. McKenzie stated that they are still working with their partners in Syria to restore safety to the eastern Euphrates, saying that they will continue their operations and support to their allies to establish a strong local administration on the strategic level.
As regarding the form of support provided for SDF, he indicated that they had completed their training programs for the forces and that the Syrian Democratic Forces now depend on themselves in their training.
Gen. McKenzie has also ruled out any US withdrawal at the time being, stating that they would help the Internal Security Forces (Asayish) to tackle the risk of the “Islamic State”, before considering the withdrawal from the region.
While the Commander-in-chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces, General Mazloum Abdi (also known as Mazloum Kobani) has revealed earlier today that they have discussed the recent developments on the Syrian-Turkish borders, and the Turkish threats towards their areas of control in the north and east of Syria, in addition to the issue of ISIS detainees and their families in camps in northeastern Syria, and the internal security situation, pointing out that they had a common vision to resolve the problems that encounter them.
Gen. McKenzie’s visit to northern Syria comes after taking up his current post in late March in succession to General Joseph Votel.
The visit coincides with the arrival of the US special envoy to Syria, Amb. James Jeffrey to Ankara in order to discuss Turkey’s legitimate security concerns, the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions on finding solutions to the Syrian crisis, and ensuring a permanent defeat of the Islamic State, in addition to the proposed safe zone in northern Syria.