Tensions in northeast Syria between Kurdish-led authorities and Turkish-backed groups must be resolved politically or risk having “dramatic consequences” for all of Syria, the United Nations envoy for the country told Reuters on Monday Geir Pedersen.
Hostilities have intensified between Ankara-backed Syrian rebels and the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the country’s northeast since Bashar al-Assad was deposed on December 8.
Syrian armed groups seized the town of Manbij from the SDF on December 9 and may be preparing to attack the important town of Kobani, or Ayn al-Arab, on the northern border with Turkey.
“If the situation in the northeast is not handled properly, it could bode badly for all of Syria,” Pedersen said by phone, adding that “if we fail here, it could have dramatic consequences regarding further displacement.”
The SDF – led by the Kurdish YPG – has proposed withdrawing its forces from the area in exchange for a complete truce.
But Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, along with Syria’s new de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, said on Sunday that the YPG should disband completely.
Turkey considers the YPG an extension of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants, who lead an insurgency against the Turkish state and are considered terrorists by Ankara, Washington and the European Union.
Source: Terra
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