Syria Kurds announce start of campaign to retake #Raqqa
▻http://bigstory.ap.org/5d2818fec6864288933e4b29e2b1abb4
The United States considers the Syrian Kurdish fighters as the most effective force against the IS, but Turkey views them as a terror organization and has said it will not accept a role for the Kurds in the liberation of Raqqa.
#Syrie #Turquie #Kurdes #Etats-Unis
« Accord » avec Washington pour écarter les Turcs de la bataille de Raqqa - L’Orient-Le Jour
▻http://www.lorientlejour.com/article/1016787/accord-avec-washington-pour-ecarter-les-turcs-de-la-bataille-de-raqa-
La coalition arabo-kurde, qui s’est lancée dimanche à la conquête de la ville de Raqqa, fief des jihadistes du groupe Etat islamique (EI) en Syrie, a affirmé s’être mise d’accord avec les Etats-Unis pour écarter la Turquie de l’offensive.
« Les Forces démocratiques syriennes (FDS) se sont mises d’accord de manière définitive avec la coalition internationale (dirigée par Washington) qu’il n’y aura aucun rôle turc ou des rebelles qui leur sont alliés dans l’offensive » de Raqqa, a affirmé à l’AFP Talal Sello, leur porte-parole.
Arab Fighters Massively Defect from US-backed SDF, Attack Kurdish YPG Units in Northern Syria
▻https://southfront.org/arab-fighters-massively-defect-from-us-backed-sdf-attack-kurdish-ypg-uni
Septembre 2016
Via Joshua Landis
On September 2, Liwa al-Tahrir announced that it will leave the YPG-led SDF due to the group’s policies and called for remodel of the coalition. Following the statement, the YPG attacked Liwa al-Tahrir units near the village of Suluk south-east of Tell Abyad in the province of Raqqa.
The YPG also attempted to encircle Liwa al-Tahrir checkpoints near the village of Qunaitra located north-east of Suluk. Firefights were reported there. According to Baladi News, at least 50 Liwa al-Tahrir militants are now in the city of Jarabulus where they jointed the Turkish-led forces in northern Syria. A commander of Liwa al-Tahrir, Abo Mohamad Kafrzita, is reportedly in Turkey now.
Separatly, Arab-Kurd tensions increased in Ayn Issa forcing YPG to dispatch units to take over checkpoints under Liwa Ahrar Raqqa control. Liwa Ahrar Raqqa claim to have expelled YPG from 5 villages around Ayn Issa – al-Qadriyah, al-Hamdanat, Kardushan, al-Duraybiyah and Abo Tabat after a series of firefights in the area.
Further reports added that Hazm Movement, Jabhat Thuwar Syria and Jabhat al-Haq also joined the Turkish-led forces that participate in the “Operation Euphrates Shield.”
Summarising the situation in northern Syria, it’s easy to conclude that on September 2, the SDF ceased to exist as a united force of the YPG and some non-Kurdish units.