By Aveen Karim, Rudaw,
The United States senior representative to northeast Syria on Tuesday reiterated that Washington “strongly opposes military action, including a land incursion,” as Kurds in the country brace for a Turkish ground invasion following weeks of military escalation.
In a press briefing attended by Rudaw English, Nikolas Granger issued a statement urging for de-escalation in northern Syria, echoing similar calls by other US officials.
“The escalation that we have seen in recent weeks has been unacceptably dangerous and we the United States remain deeply concerned by military action that destabilizes the region, that threatens our shared goal to fight ISIS [Islamic State] and that endangers civilians,” Granger stated.
Kurds in Syria have been Washington’s main allies on the ground in the fight against ISIS since the group seized control of swathes of land in Syria and Iraq in 2014. The US has provided ammunition and military support to the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
Turkey launched its latest aerial campaign dubbed Operation Claw-Sword targeting Kurdish positions in northern Syria and the Kurdistan Region on November 20. The operation has led to a barrage of dozens of drones and airstrikes targeting the SDF, which presents a danger to US personnel as they maintain a presence in the proximity of the area. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said last week that a ground operation would take place “soon.”
“We express our deep concern and our sincere condolences for the loss of civilian life,” Granger added.
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When asked by Rudaw English how Washington seeks to deter a ground incursion in northern Syria, in addition to urging for de-escalation, Granger responded that the US was engaging with its partners, including Ankara and the SDF, to ensure that tension defuses while adding that the US remains “deeply concerned” about the situation.
He recalled the suffering endured by communities in Syria and Iraq at the hands of ISIS and added that in order to prevent them from suffering again, the security in the area needs to be stabilized. “Our goal for the region is that people live in peace and prosperity,” he said while noting that in order to do so, military escalation which could jeopardize the fight against the terror group should be prevented.
On Sunday, General Commander of the SDF Mazloum Abdi published an opinion piece with the Washington Post titled “We’re America’s most loyal ally in Syria. Don’t forget us,” where he urged the US to help mediate to achieve peace between Turkey and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). “What we ask is for the world to be with us in a more difficult task: peace.”
The SDF was the primary force that defeated ISIS in Syria in 2019, reclaiming swathes of territory from the terror group as their backbone – the People’s Protection Units (YPG) – received worldwide recognition for their successful resistance to ISIS as the terror group pounded on the northern Syrian Kurdish city of Kobane in 2014. Ankara views the YPG as an offshoot of the PKK which has waged a decades-long insurgency fighting for increased rights for Kurds in Turkey.
Granger stated that the US was not one to speak of the matter and that it lied with other parties but that “finding political and diplomatic solutions are always preferable than having to resort to military action” and Washington would support efforts to reduce violence.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) last week placed the death toll of the latest Turkish offensive at 83 people, including 30 SDF fighters, 30 Syrian army soldiers, and ten civilians.
In addition to the US, the Syrian government and its main backer, Russia, have both called on restraint and urged Turkey for de-escalation. However, Moscow has been distracted by its war in Ukraine which has also provided Erdogan with the opportunity to emerge as a key global political actor, mediating between Moscow and Kyiv, particularly with regards to grain exports.
Russia has become reliant on Ankara as a window to the western world which it has largely been isolated by. This may guarantee Erdogan with limited opposition from Russia with regards to its operation in Syria.
Erdogan has been threatening to launch a new military operation in Rojava since May, aimed at creating a 30 kilometers deep “safe zone.” Rights groups have warned this would lead to a change in demographics and could amount to ethnic cleansing of the Kurdish community.
