General Commander of Syrian Democratic Forces Mazloum Abdi warns of Turkish exploitation amid conflict in Gaza, calls for stability in Middle East

NORTH AND EAST SYRIA — General Commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Mazloum Abdi presented his point of view regarding the rapid developments in the region following the escalation of the conflict in Gaza, which has had knock-on effects and changed the balance of power in the Middle East.

In light of the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, which has had spill-over effects in neighboring countries and attracted the attention of world public opinion, Turkey has taken advantage of that war and the global preoccupation with it to intensify its attacks and crimes in North and East Syria, said Abdi in an interview with Amberin Zaman for Al-Monitor.

He added that because there has been no just and lasting solution to the Palestinian issue, it is the greatest source of instability in the Middle East.

Abdi stressed that the Turkish attacks undermine the war against the Islamic State (ISIS), adding that the Turkey and the Syrian regime forces are seeking to remove American forces from the region and Syria in general.

Regarding the recent escalation between American forces and Iranian militias in Syria and Iraq, Abdi said that the SDF does not want North and East Syria to turn into a battlefield between the two sides.