SwedenLivingWorld world_2_fill WorldBusiness BusinessSports sports-soccer SportsEntertainmentEntertain

US-backed Kurds forced back in Syria

Kurdish-led forces controlling a large part of northeastern Syria are being pushed back by Islamist rebel forces on several fronts. The USA, which has long armed the Kurdish self-government, says it is working on the situation.

» Published: December 11 2024

US-backed Kurds forced back in Syria
Photo: Baderkhan Ahmad/AP/TT

SDF (Syria's Democratic Forces) has established its own self-governance in the northeast, called Rojava. The US has provided them with military support in battles against the jihadist movement IS, and nearly 1,000 American soldiers are stationed there.

In recent turmoil, the Kurdish-led forces have been attacked by Turkey-backed rebels and pressured by forces led by the Islamist movement Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which is taking over power in Syria.

"Believe it will continue"

We have worked side by side with SDF for a long time, and that work will continue, says the US's outgoing Defense Minister Lloyd Austin, according to American media such as CNN.

We have a good relationship with them, and I believe it will continue.

In the north, the Kurds have long been threatened by Turkey, which has established a "security zone" along the border with Kurdish-controlled areas in Syria using military force. The country has also enabled an Islamist rebel rule based in Idlib in the northwest.

Turkey's government labels SDF as a terrorist organization, based on the fact that a large part of the forces come from the PKK's armed wing YPG (People's Defense Forces).

Priority: Stop IS

In practice, this has meant that Turkey has clashed with many of its NATO allies, as they backed SDF in a US-led coalition and armed the group to fight against IS.

When the US withdrew most of its forces from Syria in 2019, the Kurds made a compromise with dictator Bashar al-Assad's regime, allowing government forces to take over areas as a buffer zone against Turkish or Turkey-backed attacks.

The US Defense Minister Austin now says that the US's top priority is to keep American forces safe and to "prevent IS from growing again".

Hundreds killed

On Tuesday, SDF announced that they had reached an agreement with American mediation to withdraw from the border city of Manbij in the north.

Over the past few days, more than 200 people have been killed in battles between Turkey-backed rebels and Kurdish-led forces in the north, according to reports from the Syrian Human Rights Observatory.

Further south, in eastern Syria, HTS-led forces claim to have taken control of the city of Dayr az-Zawr, which was under SDF's control. SDF says it has only made a minor retreat there.

Tags

TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

Erdogan's Challenger Arrested

Erdogan's Challenger Arrested

New Negotiations on Ceasefire on Sunday

New Negotiations on Ceasefire on Sunday

Disagreement about Trump and Putin's conversation

Disagreement about Trump and Putin's conversation

Secret JFK Documents Released

Secret JFK Documents Released

Ukraine: Russian drone hit hospital

Ukraine: Russian drone hit hospital

Poland and the Baltic States want to leave the landmine agreement

Poland and the Baltic States want to leave the landmine agreement

Stranded astronauts back on Earth

Stranded astronauts back on Earth

USAID Shutdown May Violate the Constitution

USAID Shutdown May Violate the Constitution

Macron and Scholz Support a Ceasefire

Macron and Scholz Support a Ceasefire

Zelensky positive - but wants to talk to Trump

Zelensky positive - but wants to talk to Trump

After Talks with Trump: Putin Wants to Play Hockey

After Talks with Trump: Putin Wants to Play Hockey

Researchers on Antarctica ask for help after threats

Researchers on Antarctica ask for help after threats

Political Scientist: A Failure for Trump

Political Scientist: A Failure for Trump

Zelensky visits Finland

Zelensky visits Finland

The EU base in Denmark: "Standing up" for Greenland

The EU base in Denmark: "Standing up" for Greenland

Pride Parade Banned in Hungary

Pride Parade Banned in Hungary

Migrants evicted from Paris theater

Migrants evicted from Paris theater

The International Community Reacts Strongly to Israeli Attacks

The International Community Reacts Strongly to Israeli Attacks

Extremists return to Netanyahu's government

Extremists return to Netanyahu's government

Tourist bus overturns in Spain – several injured

Tourist bus overturns in Spain – several injured

EU on Gaza: "The cycle of violence must be broken"

EU on Gaza: "The cycle of violence must be broken"

Sweden still best in EU – tops the list

Sweden still best in EU – tops the list

Germany: Thousands of Billions of Euros for Weapons and Roads

Germany: Thousands of Billions of Euros for Weapons and Roads

Sudden Floods in Southern Spain

Sudden Floods in Southern Spain

Trump attracts researchers from the USA to Belgium

Trump attracts researchers from the USA to Belgium

Kristersson on Putin talks: "The whole world is on edge"

Kristersson on Putin talks: "The whole world is on edge"

Ceasefire Broken: Nightmare Scenes in Gaza

Ceasefire Broken: Nightmare Scenes in Gaza

The EU attempts to rescue Radio Free Europe

The EU attempts to rescue Radio Free Europe

Trump on the conversation with Putin: Very productive

Trump on the conversation with Putin: Very productive

Kristersson: Risk of Complete Escalation

Kristersson: Risk of Complete Escalation

Expert: Broken Ceasefire a Major Setback for Trump

Expert: Broken Ceasefire a Major Setback for Trump

Protest outside Israel's parliament – "sacrificed hostages"

Protest outside Israel's parliament – "sacrificed hostages"

Stranded Astronauts on Their Way to Earth

Stranded Astronauts on Their Way to Earth

Expert: Putin knows he must give Trump an answer

Expert: Putin knows he must give Trump an answer

80,000 JFK documents made public

80,000 JFK documents made public

Netanyahu: Attack on Gaza "just the beginning"

Netanyahu: Attack on Gaza "just the beginning"

Multiple deaths in Israeli attacks in Syria

Multiple deaths in Israeli attacks in Syria

Trump: Parts of Agreement with Russia Clear

Trump: Parts of Agreement with Russia Clear

Trump withdraws protection for Biden's children

Trump withdraws protection for Biden's children

Over 600 migrants rescued off Tunisia

Over 600 migrants rescued off Tunisia