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WASHINGTON DC – America’s withdrawal Syria will have repercussions for Kurds beyond the Syrian border, argued a former adviser to the previous administration that first developed the relationship with Kurds that President Donald Trump just “gave away.”
But it may also open doors to stronger partnerships between Kurds across borders and with Arab communities inside Syria, argued Daniel Benaim on The Washington Perspective. Benaim was a Middle East adviser in the administration of Barack Obama and is currently a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress.
Trump’s decision, made without the advice of the Pentagon, his team, or America’s allies, has left Kurds in northern Syria spinning.
ISIS launched a vicious attack on the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the Hajin area on Friday – a clear indication that the group is still strong.
Co-chairs of the political wing of the SDF, the Syrian Democratic Council, met with French officials in Paris on Friday, asking France to fill the void in order to prevent an ISIS regroup and an offensive by Turkey.
Benaim said that the Kurdistan Region should also make preparations, pointing out that if an anticipated conflict erupts, the border with the Kurdistan Region remains the only open frontier for hundreds of thousands of potential refugees.
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) should develop an immediate humanitarian contingency plan, he advised.
The Kurdistan Region is currently hosting nearly 250,000 refugees from Syria and more than 1.1 million displaced Iraqis. The (KRG) shoulders the majority of the costs, with about a quarter coming from international donors.
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Friday a delay to his planned operation in northern Syria. Last week he had said the offensive would come within days. Now says it will happen within months, but will not be an “open-ended” wait.
Benaim said that Kurds in Syria need to “put aside illusions” and ideological priorities, and turn to their Arab neighbours “who can either be tomorrow’s enemy that you have to fight or they can be tomorrow’s friend.”
“It’s a moment for statesmanship and vision. You’ve been dealt a very bad hand by the choices of the US president, but you still have choices yourself.”
But it may also open doors to stronger partnerships between Kurds across borders and with Arab communities inside Syria, argued Daniel Benaim on The Washington Perspective. Benaim was a Middle East adviser in the administration of Barack Obama and is currently a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress.
Trump’s decision, made without the advice of the Pentagon, his team, or America’s allies, has left Kurds in northern Syria spinning.
ISIS launched a vicious attack on the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the Hajin area on Friday – a clear indication that the group is still strong.
Co-chairs of the political wing of the SDF, the Syrian Democratic Council, met with French officials in Paris on Friday, asking France to fill the void in order to prevent an ISIS regroup and an offensive by Turkey.
Benaim said that the Kurdistan Region should also make preparations, pointing out that if an anticipated conflict erupts, the border with the Kurdistan Region remains the only open frontier for hundreds of thousands of potential refugees.
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) should develop an immediate humanitarian contingency plan, he advised.
The Kurdistan Region is currently hosting nearly 250,000 refugees from Syria and more than 1.1 million displaced Iraqis. The (KRG) shoulders the majority of the costs, with about a quarter coming from international donors.
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Friday a delay to his planned operation in northern Syria. Last week he had said the offensive would come within days. Now says it will happen within months, but will not be an “open-ended” wait.
Benaim said that Kurds in Syria need to “put aside illusions” and ideological priorities, and turn to their Arab neighbours “who can either be tomorrow’s enemy that you have to fight or they can be tomorrow’s friend.”
“It’s a moment for statesmanship and vision. You’ve been dealt a very bad hand by the choices of the US president, but you still have choices yourself.”
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