Syrian Democratic Forces Commander-in-Chief, Mazloum Adbî, meets with American Commander of the U.S. anti-ISIS coalition, Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan Leader from the Kurdistan Regional Governance, Bafel Talabani to speak about "developing anti-terror joint efforts to preserve the region's stability".
Recently members representing The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, often referred to as #Rojava, traveled to the United States in order to meet with members of the United States Congress. This as #Turkey has continued to strike mainly #Kurdish Regions in both #Syria, often targeting civilian infrastructure. This as reliable source stated there is an attempt for renewed back channel diplomacy between the autonomous #Kurdistan Regional Governance in Iraq, and leaders in Syrian Kurdistan. This diplomacy has been stalled as the Kurdistan Democratic Party which leads the government in the KRG has a very strained relationship with the head party in Rojava, the #PYD, even as the other major party in the #KRG, the #PUK, has worked closely with both PYD and has often even assisted in counter-terrorism operation in the #AANES through the PUK led Lexoman Parastin, or CTG (Counter Terrorism Group). It should be noted that the KDP and PUK who are the main political parties in the Kurdistan Regional Governance also have a historically strained relationship.
United States Military on patrol in Syria, where their alliance with Syrian #Kurds has upset Turkey, as Turkey has continued to strike The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria along with Turkish occupied region of Syria that are historically Kurdish, such as #Afrin.
This as Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan, who has been firmly against the U.S. policy of arming the #SDF in Syria, will also visit the United States on May 9th according to a Turkish security official, in what will be his first visit to the White House during the #Biden Administration. This also comes amongst violence in the region which many fear will escalate. Recent attacks, in addition to #Turkish Strikes in the Kurdistan Region have included many attacks from #ISIS, the recent strike by #Israel on an #Iranian #Diplomatic Compound in #Damascus, which took out high ranking Iranian military officials, and multiple attacks from #Iran and Iranian back militias throughout #Iraq, #Syria, and even #Jordan that have targeted U.S. and Western Military installations. One of the most recent attacks was multiple Iranian suicide drone attack on an American base in al-Tanf, Syria, the most recent of which reportedly injured two Syrian opposition forces. Two suicide drones were shot down but a third hit the U.S. military compound in al-Tanf. According to both American and Kurdish source there is a lot of concern about further violence in Kurdish Regions and anywhere where the United States Military is based in the region.
United States base in al-Tanf, Syria, which houses both American Troops and Syrian opposition fighters who are often trained at this base close to the Syrian-Jordan border.
According to sources in #Qamişlo, #Kobanî, and #Raqqah the Turkish Strikes against civilian infrastructure has made life increasingly difficult for the population of the region and are creating an even worse humanitarian crisis. In Qamişlo there has been strikes against gas facilities, electric substations, residential buildings and reportedly even one school and a hospital. According to reliable sources throughout the rest of Al-Hasakah Governorate, where Qamişlo is located, the Turkish military has also targeted farms and grain silos using drones and fighter jets. In October the United States F-16 even shot down a Turkish combat drone in Al-Hasakah when it came too close to U.S. forces in the region. This has led to a lack of electricity along with shortages of food, water, and necessary medications and has caused prices to go up due to the shortages of supply. For a while now people have resorted to digging wells even in the middle of cities to get much needed water. The diesel shortage due to attacks on infrastructure has also made it difficult for many civilians to pump drinking water as they usually would as well.
Turkish airstrike on civilian infrastructure in the Al-Hasakah country side near Qamişlo, AANES
The same attacks, along with a large increase in kidnappings, have also happened in Kurdish cities such as Kobanî, and Ain-Issa, along with more Arab area within the AANES such as Raqqah, Aleppo, and Manbij. ISIS has also been increasingly active in these regions even as Kurdish and American counterterrorism activities have increased throughout the AANES, with a reported 191 terrorist attacks in areas controlled by either Damascus or the Autonomous Administration, with none reported in areas where the Turkey has de-facto control in Syria. Turkey is likely going to continue to insist that America stops assisting the Syrian Democratic Forces, which Turkey considers a terrorist group but is key to U.S. anti-ISIS operation in Syria and has been for nearly a decade. The leaders if AANES have accused Turkey of war crimes as they have increasingly targeted civilian infrastructure which is likely a topic that those on a diplomatic mission from the AANES will speak about with American lawmakers. A recent report stated that out of 224 Turkish strikes in the Kurdish led regions in Northern and Eastern Syria, only 34 were on military targets. For years officials from the AANES have stated that the United States response to these attacks have been weak, even as #Ankara has accused the U.S. of supporting a terrorist organization by supplying weapons and training to the Syrian Democratic Forces. The current United States President, Joseph Biden, has been fairly pro-Kurdish for a long period of time and was Vice-President when Obama Administration started assisted the Syrian Democratic Forces militarily. This has at times strained the relationship between the United States of America and fellow NATO country Turkey but it is highly unlikely that President Biden would pull troops out of Syria.
Turkish drone strike on a residential area of Kobanî, a small city on the border of Syria and Turkey, which since the fight against ISIS has become a symbol of Kurdish resistance.
As the AANES continue diplomatic efforts in with members of the United States Congress it is clear that they want to bulster their support among American lawmakers. This increase in diplomatic efforts with American lawmakers likely has many reason, most of which have to due with the current War in Gaza which many fear has already spread throughout the region, which many signs shown it has, as Iran recently threatened to make the United States pay for the Israeli strike on Iran's diplomatic compound in Damascus, Syria. Of course there may be other fears as Turkish President Erdoğan has long wanted to invade Northern Syria to create a "buffer zone" on Syrian territory. It also may be to increase support within Congress incase Trump is reelected, as it was during the Trump Administration that the United States military pulled back from the Turkish border which led to the Turkish military occupying multiple Kurdish cities close to the Syrian border and many sources within the AANES, including civilians, political, and military leaders are worried that if President Biden does not win reelection that Trump could pull all U.S. troops out of Syria, and they are hoping that other lawmakers may hep prevent that as they are concerned that without any U.S. troops in Syria that the Turkish President Erdoğan may fully invade Northern Syria. What is most clear is that civilians and leaders alike within the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria are struggling to deal with Turkish strikes throughout the region as they attempt to fight cells of ISIS supporters and other terrorist groups during a humanitarian crisis. This as Iranian militias in the region are increasingly attacking western targets and those seen as allies of the United States. This has led to more attacks in Kurdish areas in both the KRG and the AANES, and many sources in the AANES have said they are hoping that diplomacy with members of Congress will ensure that no matter what, they are seen as stable and key allies of the United States in the region.
Turkish airstrike outside of Raqqah, Syria, the former capital of ISIS until it was liberated by the SDF with the assistance of the U.S. led coalition. Raqqah has been one of the cities where many sources state they live in contant fear of both attacks and kidnappings.