Helbast Shekhani, Editing by Karzan Sulaivany
Kurdistan 24Tue, 03 Apr 2018 18:59 UTC
© Photo: Kurdistan 24Rezan Gilo, the joint chief of defense in Syrian Kurdistan (Rojava), speaks to Kurdistan 24 on the latest developments after France promised to support the YPG-led SDF, Qamishlo city, Rojava, Syria, April 2, 2018
A senior official in the Kurdish-run administration in northern Syria on Monday confirmed the presence of French forces in the region.Rezan Gilo, the joint chief of defense in Syrian Kurdistan (Rojava), told Kurdistan 24 there are French and US troops in Manbij, Raqqa, and all over northern Syria.
"We tell of what we see on the ground, not the statements," he said, responding to some reports denying the presence of those forces in Rojava.
"Sometimes the NATO states deny the existence of their forces in the region to avoid any tension, but, actually, French and US troops are operating on the ground in our region," Gilo added.
Last week, Macron met a delegation containing senior officials of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) are a leading component, and gave assurances of French support to stabilize northern Syria.
Khaled Eissa, a Kurdish official based in Paris, said Macron had promised to send French troops to Manbij to support the fight against the Islamic State (IS) and dissuade Turkey from advancing on the town.France raised Turkey's ire by meeting in Paris with a delegation that included YPG members that Turkey considers "terrorists."
Worsening matters, Macron offered to mediate between them.Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said France had taken a "completely wrong approach" on Syria, adding that he exchanged heated words with his French counterpart last week.
Moreover, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag said the French stance was setting Paris on a collision course with Ankara.
TENSION WITH USTurkey has long complained about US support for the SDF which Ankara considers "terrorists."
But the US had always eased the tension after each incident that showed support for the YPG which Turkey considers a branch of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), locked in a three-decade fight against the Turkish army.
The White House said President Donald Trump- who said last week that the US would be "coming out of Syria very soon"-spoke to Erdogan on Friday
"to discuss regional developments and the strategic partnership between the United States and Turkey.""The two leaders expressed support for continued efforts to increase cooperation between their two countries, to advance shared interests as NATO allies, and to work through issues that affect the bilateral relationship," a White House statement said.
Comment: Turkey on Thursday
urged France not to "make the same mistake" as the US by sending troops to the Syrian town of Manbij, which Ankara has threatened to attack to dislodge Kurdish militia.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said Turkey would expand its offensive against the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia to the town in north Syria.
Turkey's Yeni Safak daily said that France had deployed 50 soldiers to Manbij to support the YPG.
Russian President Vladimir Putin in a telephone call with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron spoke about his recent meetings on Syria with Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, the Kremlin press service
said in a statement.
"Putin informed Macron about the decisions made at the April 4 Russian-Turkish-Iranian summit in Ankara, which concern further cooperation aimed at ensuring long-term stability in Syria, strengthening the country's sovereignty, unity, independence and territorial integrity," the statement reads. "It was noted that there was a need to advance the political settlement process through implementing the decisions made at the Syrian national Dialogue Congress, as well as to promptly establish a United Nations sponsored Constitutional Committee," the Kremlin press service added.
"The situation in Eastern Ghouta was also discussed, the focus was on the unprecedented large-scale operation to save civilians and withdraw militants not willing to lay down their arms," the statement says. "Russia emphasized the importance of consolidating the global community's efforts to provide humanitarian aid to people in need across Syria in compliance with the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2401," the Kremlin press service pointed out.
The two presidents expressed "readiness to continue Russian-French consultations on key aspects of the Syria settlement."
The Kremlin press service added that the telephone call had been initiated by Paris.
Comment: Turkey on Thursday urged France not to "make the same mistake" as the US by sending troops to the Syrian town of Manbij, which Ankara has threatened to attack to dislodge Kurdish militia. Russian President Vladimir Putin in a telephone call with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron spoke about his recent meetings on Syria with Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, the Kremlin press service said in a statement.