Senior SDF commander defects, travels to Turkey: Officials
A senior commander and spokesperson for the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Wednesday abandoned the group and left for Turkey, according to Syrian rebel officials.
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – A senior commander and spokesperson for the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Wednesday abandoned the group and left for Turkey, according to Syrian rebel officials.
Brigadier General Talal Silo of the US-backed SDF, an alliance of Kurdish and Arab forces dominated by the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), handed himself into the Free Syrian Army (FSA)—an opposition of the SDF.
Silo’s surrender occurred near Jarablus city in northern Syria where he was then escorted to Turkey, which supports FSA groups in that area, Reuters reported.
“Silo was secretly coordinating with commanders from the FSA, and when he entered areas under their control he then crossed into Turkish territory,” FSA spokesperson Ibrahim al-Idlibi was quoted by Reuters.
The officials provided no reason for Silo’s abandonment, while SDF officials were not immediately available for comment.
Meanwhile, the US-led coalition said it was “aware of reports of [Silo’s] apparent departure from the SDF, but have no further details on his current status at this time.”
Before joining the SDF in October 2015, Silo was a lieutenant officer in the Syrian Army before he was arrested by the regime in 2004. After joining the SDF, he played a significant media role in the battles against the Islamic State (IS).
Since the emergence of IS in Syria and Iraq, the US-backed Kurdish-led SDF was instrumental in driving out the extremist group from large swaths of territory in Syria, recently liberating Raqqa—IS’ de facto capital in the country.
The US’ support for the YPG has angered Turkey, who believes the group is an extension of the terrorist-designated Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which has battled the Turkish government for decades for broader Kurdish rights.
Although Washington has labeled the PKK terrorists as well, they do not agree with Turkey’s stance regarding the YPG and view them as one of their key allies in the fight against IS.
Editing by Nadia Riva