US may have given ‘green light’ for Turkish ground offensive: SDF chief

ByNews Desk- The cradle

Damascus and the SDF have recently discussed a possible settlement regarding the future of the Kurdish autonomous region in northern Syria

Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar reported on 27 January that Washington is ramping up its activities in Syria’s eastern regions, which coincides with an increased Kurdish fear that the US has given Turkiye a ‘green light’ to carry out its long-promised ground offensive against the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

According to the report, the US is looking to bolster financial and military support to the armed factions being housed in the Al-Tanf base, out of fear that the facility will be attacked again soon.

It adds that the unconfirmed and yet to be announced foreign ministers’ meeting between Moscow, Damascus, and Ankara has been “replaced” with a new defense ministers’ meeting between the three, which is meant to take place “in the first half of next month.”

Al-Akhbar also states that there has been an increase in Russian diplomatic and military activity in Syria, “with the presence and approval of the Iranians,” aimed at “preserving” the path of reconciliation between Damascus and Ankara and preventing any US attempts at obstructing it.

As part of these US obstruction efforts, Washington has attempted to propose a rapprochement between Turkiye and the SDF that would replace Turkish-Syrian reconciliation – something both Ankara and the Kurds have rejected. This involves merging the SDF with a revived version of the Raqqa Revolutionary Brigade.

These efforts have so far failed, Al-Akhbar said. The commander of the SDF, Mazloum Abdi, said during an interview with Al-Hadath TV on 26 January that the US may have now given “their approval of the [ground offensive],” which he said was indicated by the fact that the US has opened its airspace in Syria to Turkiye.

Despite the Kurdish commander’s claim that Damascus has not officially responded to the SDF’s request for help in repelling a potential Turkish ground attack, Abdi did add that there are 12,000 government soldiers stationed “in and around Kobani whose sole duty is to defend Syrian territory.”

“The Russians and the Syrian regime will object to the launching of a Turkish operation,” he said.

In the context of recent dialogue between Syria and the SDF, Abdi was asked during the interview about the future of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), to which he responded that there was already talk between Damascus and the Kurds regarding the future of the de-facto autonomous region.

According to Abdi, the first goal of this “project,” which is in its very early stages, is the government’s recognition of the AANES in the Syrian constitution. The second goal is the handing over of the northeastern territories to the SDF and Kurdish Asayish security forces “under the umbrella of the Syrian [Arab] Army (SAA).”

“We have faith in this project,” the Kurdish leader added during the interview.

The SDF chief said it would be hard for Damascus to fully recognize the AANES. A viable solution with the government regarding this region is possible, he said, but “only if Turkiye is taken out of the equation, as it is the biggest obstacle.”