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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Turkish backed militia refuses to attack Afrin |
| 2017-07-04 |
| [ARA News] Syrian rebel fighters of the Descendants of Saladin Brigade, which was part of the Turkey-backed Euphrates Shield operation and also receives support from the US, will not participate in Turkey-led attacks on the Kurdish city of Afrin. Mahmoud Khallo, a commander of the Saladin brigade, told ARA News that his group will not participate in military operations against Afrin (also known as Efrîn). The reason the group refuses to participate is unclear, since in the past the group said it’s ready to attack the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG). The Descendants of Saladin Brigade includes Kurdish fighters loyal to the Turkey-backed Syrian opposition. “They [the YPG] are against the Kurds. These groups are trying to ignite a sectarian war between Arabs and Kurds and this won’t happen because we won’t allow it. If the YPG does not retreat from Tal Rafat and the Mennagh air base, we will fight them in the area between Jarabulus and Azaz,” Mahmoud Abu Hamza, a Grandsons of Salahadin commander based in Turkey, told Middle East Eye in March. However, now the group says it’s not interested in attacking Afrin or Til Rifaat in Aleppo province. During the last few days, sporadic clashes took place between the YPG and the Turkish troops near Afrin. Reportedly, there are 20,000 FSA forces backed by Turkey preparing to launch an attack on areas held by the Kurdish YPG in Afrin and Til Rifaat. The senior Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) leader Murat Karayilan said any attack on Afrin would not be done without the knowledge and consent of Russia, Iran and the Syrian regime. He said Turkey is trying to bargain a deal in order to open up a way to occupy parts of Syria. The Saladin Brigade is the only Kurdish faction which is part of the Euphrates Shield operation, and is positioned in al-Bab area, particularly in the Qabasin town where many Kurds live. |
| Posted by:badanov |