ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) has asked the international community to establish a no-fly zone in order to give them a fighting chance against the current military onslaught from the much bigger, better equipped, NATO army of Turkey.
"All we want from the international community is a no-fly zone so we can have a fair war with Turkey," SDF commander Redur Khalil appealed in a televised statement on Saturday afternoon.
The Turkish Army and its Syrian rebel proxies launched Operation Peace Spring against the SDF on Wednesday. Ankara considers the Kurdish-led force a terror organization and wants to push the Kurds away from the border region to establish a so-called "safe zone." The Kurdish administration accuses Turkey of wanting to force demographic change of their towns and villages, home also to Arab and Assyrian communities.
Turkey began its operation with an assault from the air that terrorised the civilian population. Turkey's air force is just one weapon in its vast arsenal that the SDF cannot match.
The estimated 40,000-strong SDF are battle-hardened after defeating the Islamic State (ISIS) on the ground in northern Syria, with the backing of allies in the US-led coalition that carried out daily airstrikes against militant positions. The SDF themselves, however, are most reliant on mortar shells and AK-47 assault rifles.
"Since Turkey started the offensive, they have not stopped bombing the region with missiles and artillery," said Khalil. "All we need is a no-fly zone."
Establishing a no-fly zone may go some way towards softening the blow of betrayal the people of northeastern Syria felt when US President Donald Trump essentially gave Turkey the green light for its offensive by ordering American soldiers to pull back from two outposts where they were stationed.
"We had a lot of friends during the ISIS days, but our friends betrayed us," said Khalil. "When they left us when Turkey decided to attack, they stabbed us in the back."
Forty-five SDF fighters have lost their lives as of four days of the conflict, he revealed.
There have also been scores of civilian casualties. The Kurdish Red Crescent, an aid agency on the ground in northern Syria, has documented 34 civilian deaths and the injury of 71 others, including children and women.
The United Nations on Friday estimated 100,000 civilians have been displaced from their homes.
"This Turkish incursion does not distinguish between civilians and military," said Khalil.
Turkish media have reported civilian casualties in villages on their side of the border. SDF artillery fire was blamed for eight deaths in Nusaybin on Friday.
Turkey's military offensive has been widely condemned, especially in Europe, where three nations have announced their suspension of weapons sales to Ankara in quick succession.
Germany's Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told BILD am SONNTAG on Friday they "will not issue any new permits for all armaments that could be used by Turkey and Syria."
The Netherlands announced the suspension of all new arms sales to Turkey on Friday; Norway made a similar announcement on Thursday.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said Turkey will press on with its offensive, regardless of the universal disapproval. "We will never stop this step we have taken against the PYD/YPG," he said on Friday of the main Kurdish political party and armed forces of northern Syria. "We will not stop it no matter what anyone says."
