Traffic police expands operations in post-IS Raqqa: Syrian Kurdish-led forces
The US-backed, Kurdish-led forces in northern Syria confirmed on Saturday the graduation of the first batch of traffic police officers in Raqqa which was liberated from the Islamic State (IS) last October.
RAQQA (Kurdistan 24) – The US-backed, Kurdish-led forces in northern Syria confirmed on Saturday the graduation of the first batch of traffic police officers in Raqqa which was liberated from the Islamic State (IS) last October.
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), an alliance of forces in northern and eastern Syria dominated by the Kurdish People’s Protection Unit (YPG), said the new traffic police units have started working in the town of Tabqa, some 60 kilometers (40 miles), west of Raqqa.
“The first batch of 136 traffic police elements, both men and women from Raqqa city and its surroundings, graduated this week,” the SDF statement read.
On Oct. 17, the SDF declared full victory over IS and the liberation of the city of Raqqa, the jihadist group’s de facto capital of the self-proclaimed Caliphate.
Raqqa’s internal security force was formed in May 2017, before the liberation of Raqqa, while traffic police started working in Raqqa city in January after it was retaken. It expanded its operations to rural areas last week.
Regarding other administrative matters in Raqqa, the Raqqa Civilian Council (RCC), which was established last year before the battle in Ain Issa, north of Raqqa, moved its headquarters to the city only a few weeks ago.
Raqqa area is currently under the control of the Kurdish-led SDF, and, so far, its officials assert it will not be handed over to the Syrian government.
On the other hand, Turkey has been enraged by the US’ support for the forces ruling Raqqa, claiming they have links to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has been waging a three-decades-long fight in Turkey’s southeast over greater Kurdish rights. Washington has repeatedly rejected Ankara's allegations over the YPG.
Editing by Nadia Riva