The Democratic Union Party (PYD) and the People’s Protection Units (YPG) – which make up the backbone of the SDF – hosted talks on Sunday with a delegation of around 100 Rojava Peshmerga under the supervision of the US-led Coalition, a Peshmerga commander confirmed.
The meeting – the first of its kind between the rival Kurdish forces – took place just days after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened to launch a new offensive against the YPG east of the Euphrates River.
The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), which controls the Rojava Peshmerga, enjoys good relations with Turkey. The US-led Coalition likely brokered the meeting in the hope these good relations could help stop a Turkish offensive.
However, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the SDF rejected the offer.
The US-led Coalition is still trying to persuade the SDF to accept, the monitor added.
The Peshmerga commander, who wished to remain anonymous, told Rudaw around 100 Rojava Peshmerga arrived in the al-Walid area of Derik, near the Iraqi border on Sunday for talks brokered by the US-led coalition.
The Peshmerga commander did not offer details on what was discussed in the meeting, although developments in the fight against ISIS in Hajin and recent threats from Ankara were no doubt high on the agenda.
The meeting was significant because relations between the two Kurdish forces have never been warm.
The YPG makes up the backbone of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) – a Kurdish-Arab force which has liberated large areas of northern Syria from ISIS control. Turkey, however, views the YPG as an offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which Ankara considers a terrorist organization.
The Rojava Peshmerga is a Syrian Kurdish force trained and equipped by the Peshmerga of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. It played an integral role in the fight against ISIS in the Kurdistan Region and northern Iraq.
However, the PYD administration in Rojava is weary of the Rojava Peshmerga and has long prevented its presence in the areas under its control.
Among the reasons often cited is the fear Kurdish forces in northern Syria could be split along political lines, as the Kurdistan Region Peshmerga is divided between the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK).
Moreover, the PYD fears the Rojava Peshmerga would operate in Syria under direction of Masoud Barzani, the KDP president.
Erdogan warned on Wednesday last week he would deploy troops east of the Euphrates to fight the YPG. This is despite the presence of US military personnel supporting the SDF.
Turkish bombardment of YPG positions near the Syria-Turkey border in November caused the SDF to suspend its anti-ISIS operation. This forced the US to intervene diplomatically and led to the creation of US-manned outposts along the Syria-Turkey border.
Despite recent improvements in Turkey-US relations, international opposition was not enough to prevent Turkey sending troops into Afrin, northwest Syria in January this year. Turkey has also laid down roots in Idlib, where it is supporting the last remnants of the Syrian opposition.
In a phone call on Friday, Erdogan and US President Donald Trump agreed to have “more effective coordination” on Syria. Turkish and US forces are already carrying out joint military patrols near SDF-held Manbij on the west bank of the Euphrates.
Last updated 9.26 pm
