US-Led Coalition patrols in Kobani highlight continued presence amid rising tensions
Kobani, a Kurdish-majority city in northern Syria, continues to be a symbol of resistance after the SDF and coalition forces drove ISIS out of the area in 2015.
Dec. 31, 2024
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The US-led international coalition has strengthened patrols in the western countryside of Kobani, indicating a continued military presence in the strategically important city amid intensified tensions between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Turkey.
The patrols come at a critical juncture as clashes between Turkish-backed factions and the SDF, a key US ally in the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS), have intensified in recent weeks.
The movements highlight Washington’s ongoing role in the volatile region despite geopolitical and military challenges.
Kobani, a Kurdish-majority city in northern Syria, continues to be a symbol of resistance after the SDF and coalition forces drove ISIS out of the area in 2015.
However, Turkey has recurrently expressed concerns over the SDF’s ties to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which Ankara considers a terrorist organization.
The increased patrol activity reflects the coalition’s efforts to maintain stability in the region, but it also underlines the precarious balance of power, with Turkey continuing to threaten military operations against Kurdish-held areas in northern Syria.
Earlier today, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported three members of the Kurdish-led Internal Security Forces (Asayish) were killed and seven others critically injured in an attack by Turkish-backed fighters in Aleppo's Kurdish-majority al-Ashrafiya neighborhood on Tuesday.
This is the first attack of its kind in Aleppo since Islamist-led rebel factions took control of most of the city in December.
The Kurdish-majority neighborhoods of Sheikh Maksoud and al-Ashrafiya have continued to be under Kurdish control amid Syria’s prolonged civil war.
As stated by the UK-based SOHR, the attackers attacked a checkpoint using explosive-laden drones, resulting in the casualties.
Observers warn that the situation could escalate further if diplomatic efforts fail to address the growing tensions between the SDF and Turkey, leaving Kobani and its residents caught in the crossfire of regional rivalries.