Coalition spokesperson says Turkey’s bombardment of Afrin remains a concern

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – Turkey is a partner of the Global Coalition against the Islamic State (IS) and a NATO ally, but their bombardments on the Syrian Kurdish city of Afrin in the north remains a concern, a spokesperson said on Friday.

In an interview with Kurdistan 24, spokesman for the US-led coalition, Col. Ryan Dillon, stated there were serious concerns about the recent Turkish airstrikes in Syria, and called on all forces to focus on the fight against IS.

“The fight continues in the middle of the Euphrates river valley north of Albu Kamal [Syria],” Dillon said, adding that the coalition was still supporting its partners in the area as well as places that have been liberated from IS to prevent it from re-emerging.

He noted that the world owes the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) forces in Syria “a great deal of gratitude for their efforts,” saying the force in the past years has done “a remarkable job” in liberating areas from the jihadist group.

The spokesperson explained that the coalition was helping the SDF in Syria to prevent IS members from fleeing the country to Turkey and then to Europe, stating the Kurdish-led force will try to defend open areas at the border.

Dillon highlighted that the US-led coalition had provided military support to the SDF throughout the campaign to defeat IS, declaring “we could do it again if necessary” in spite of Turkey’s concerns regarding the arming of Kurdish elements known as the People’s Protection Units (YPG).

He mentioned that the Coalition, along with local forces, would continue to patrol liberated areas which are at risk of IS resurging.

“We will remain in Syria until the political process and peace process takes traction.”

Commenting on Iraq, Dillon said that the jihadist group continues to exist in the country. “The fight against Da’esh [IS] in Iraq is not complete. Dae’sh no longer holds territory but they still very much remain a threat.”

He also warned that IS might also try to re-emerge in the north near Erbil. The coalition will continue to train Peshmerga to prevent that from happening, he clarified.

The coalition would also continue to provide intelligence to the Iraqi forces, and advisers and US troops on the ground would participate in most offensives to chase remnants of IS, he added.

Until now, coalition partners have trained 130,000 Iraqi troops, including the Kurdish Peshmerga forces, according to Dillon.

He said Iraqi forces recently found 45 to 50 tons of explosive materials near Tal Afar, west of Mosul.

Regarding allegations of the death of IS leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, he stated there was no proof to confirm the claims. The coalition, with the help of the local forces in Iraq and Syria, will, therefore, continue to look after him.

Editing by Nadia Riva