Syrian Democratic Forces deny Turkish accusations it is covertly attacking occupied Tel Abyad and Rish Ayno (Ras al-Ayn)

NORTH AND EAST SYRIA – In a statement posted on its official website, the General Command of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) denied the accusations made by the Turkish Ministry of Defense that it was maintaining a covert presence in regions under its occupation and other “fabricated news”.

Turkish forces and their proxy-force the Syrian National Army (SNA) invaded the cities of Tel Abyad, Rish Ayno (Ras al-Ayn), and the surrounding countryside in October 2019 under the pretext that the presence that the predominantly Kurdish Peoples’ Protection Units (YPG) posed a national security threat.

The SNA is a collection of militias, including several espousing Islamist ideologies, formed and funded by Turkey.

The current frontline in the region has been more or less stagnant since ceasefires were brokered by the U.S. and Russia halted the Turkish operation. While the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the military forces of the autonomous administrations governing large areas of North and East Syria, are not signatories of the ceasefires, they have agreed to abide by them.

The YPG is a founding and substantial member of the SDF.

However, in recent days, Turkish defense officials and media have reported that the YPG has conducted several “infiltration attempts” and on Saturday the Turkish Ministry of Defense claimed to have killed 13 YPG fighters attempting to sneak into Rish Ayno.

Anadolu Agency, owned by the Turkish state and widely known as an outlet for Turkish government propaganda, reported that a “civilian” told an Anadolu Agency reported that the YPG was blackmailing him to set off a car bomb in Tel Abyad.

In its response to what it called “fabricated news and statements”, SDF General Command issued a statement denying the allegations.

“We affirm that all this information and news is untrue and that a miserable attempt being made to misrepresent the reality on the ground, in terms of full commitment of our forces to the agreements signed in this regard and the absence of any military presence of our forces in the occupied areas,” read the statement. “Whereas the reality is that the Turkish forces and its mercenary groups continue to bomb villages surrounding the operation areas, causing various civilian casualties and infrastructure damage.”

The SDF closed with the reaffirmation of the group’s commitment to the current ceasefire and called on Turkey to respect the agreements it has signed.