Media: US withdrawal demand deepens rift between PKK and YPG in Syria

Amid the ongoing conflict between the Syrian National Army (SNA) and the PKK/YPG in Syria, PKK leaders in the Qandil mountains are reluctant to comply with the US demand for the withdrawal of the terrorist organization from the region.

Iran's role in supporting the PKK/YPG has also increased, Caliber.Az reports referencing Turkish newspaper Türkiye.

Fehim Isa, commander of the 2nd Corps of the Syrian National Army, stated that the PKK/YPG is carrying out attacks on positions and civilians along the Tishrin line with the help of Iranian kamikaze drones. Some days have seen up to 80 drone strikes. He noted that since December 8, Iran has significantly escalated its support for the PKK/YPG.

"In fact, instructors who have been serving Assad for years are now fighting against us among the ranks of terrorists. We have information that Shiite militants and instructors are crossing the Iraqi border. Part of the same strategy involved handing over all their weapons and controlled territories in Aleppo, Deir ez-Zor, and Hasakah to the PKK/YPG. They have not succeeded, but their persistence in the disintegration of Syria and harm to Türkiye continues," he said.

Fehim Isa also remarked that the US and Iran have formed an alliance to protect the PKK/YPG: "Their common goal is the disintegration of Syria, just like Iraq. Once the positions in the Tishrin and Karakozak areas are taken, all terrorist cantons, especially Ain al-Arab, will be open to us. This is why Iran has entered the trenches. With the fall of the regime and the withdrawal of Iranian forces from Syria, the terrorist organization will be destroyed."

He further explained that after reaching a temporary ceasefire agreement with the US delegation in Manbij, the latter requested that the Syrian forces leave the areas around the Karakozak Bridge and Tishrin Dam.

Cemil Bayık

Following this, YPG leader Ferhat Abdi Şahin discussed the matter with one of the PKK's founding members, Cemil Bayık, and said, "Let’s leave." However, the leaders in Qandil warned Şahin: "Anyone who leaves the country because the US wants it will be punished."

"If necessary, you will all die, but do not leave. You will receive instructions from us, not from the US. Otherwise, you will pay the price," Bayık threatened the leader of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

Fehim Isa added that the PKK/YPG may have suffered the heaviest personnel losses in the Set-Tishrin-Karakozak front throughout the war. The SDF units have been nearly completely dissolved, with little chance of holding their positions. This is why they are focusing on negotiations with Damascus, aiming to gain advantages from any concessions they can secure, demonstrating strength and receiving support from their patrons.

By Aghakazim Guliyev