ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The global coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS) on Thursday condemned “attempts” by third party actors to disrupt its military operations against the terror group in northeast Syria (Rojava).
The US-led coalition said in a statement on Thursday that its members met with local community leaders in Hasaka, Rojava on Tuesday “to discuss community members’ concerns about recent military activity in northeast Syria. Officials reaffirmed the Global Coalition’s commitment to advising, assisting, and enabling regional partners to ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS in the region.”
John Brennan, commander of Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve, was quoted in the statement as saying that he condemns third party actors without mentioning any any countries. “We denounce the killing of civilians by any and all armed groups.”
The coalition, which was formed in the summer of 2014 when ISIS controlled swathes of Syrian and Iraqi land, has provided the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) with weapons, trained them and supported the force in the fight against ISIS. The SDF is the only partner of the US-led coalition on the ground in Rojava.
“The Coalition and our SDF partners remain steadfast in our shared goal of ensuring the lasting defeat of ISIS,” said Maj. Gen. Brennan in the statement.
Turkey is a member of the coalition but it has carried out two military operations against the SDF since 2018 and frequently targeted the positions of the Kurdish-led force rather than focusing on the fight against ISIS. Ankara has instead cracked down on ISIS members at home.
Recent threats by Turkish officials to carry out a fresh military operation against Kurdish fighters in northern Syria have concerned the US and Russia.
Mazloum Abdi, SDF General Commander, warned in mid-July that ISIS was planning to attack the notorious al-Hol camp in Rojava if Turkey launched a new offensive against his force, based on intelligence shared by the global coalition against the group.
Syrian regime on Wednesday said an ISIS leader was killed after he blew himself up during an operation in the country’s southwestern Daraa province, state media reported.
