Politics

Syrian Kurdish forces welcome US-Russian truce plan

The Syrian Kurdish forces known as People's Protection Units or the YPG announced that it would halt offensive operations in line with a United States-Russian agreement aimed at bringing about a ceasefire across Syria at sundown on Monday.

Ari Khalidi 2016/09/12 13:18

kurdistan Syria YPG SDF Russia United States Turkey

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – The Syrian Kurdish forces known as People's Protection Units or the YPG announced that it would halt offensive operations in line with a United States-Russian agreement aimed at bringing about a ceasefire across Syria at sundown on Monday.

The US-backed YPG, which controls large swathes of Kurdistan of Syria (Rojava), said in an online statement that it hoped the deal would allow efforts to focus on the war against Islamic State (IS) and to prepare necessary conditions for a political transition.

"However, we believe that the political transition process must include all sides, including the Democratic Self-administration [of Rojava] and other parties in order to achieve a permanent ceasefire," the statement read.

Syrian Kurds alongside their Arab and Assyrian allies declared autonomy last March, announcing the Federation of Northern Syria – Rojava. Rojava is Kurdish for "west" and refers to Syrian Kurdistan.

The YPG added the Kurdish forces were optimistic that the planned ceasefire would create a new environment in which the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution number 2254 could be implemented to "ensure the rights of all Syrian components according to international norms and laws."

UNSC Resolution No. 2254 adopted in December 2015 stipulates a road map for a peace process in Syria, setting out a timetable for United Nations-facilitated talks between the Syrian government and opposition groups.

The statement called Turkey's last month incursion with the Free Syrian Army (FSA) factions into Syria "an occupation" and demanded the withdrawal of Turkish forces that have over the past two weeks intermittently attacked and clashed with Kurdish forces.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), an alliance that includes the YPG, also announced it would observe by the truce. SDF and YPG are playing a major in the US-led campaign against IS in Syria.

The US and Russia reached a breakthrough deal on a ceasefire last Saturday to try to restore peace in Syria. The ceasefire does not apply to the fight against hardline Islamist groups, including IS and Jabhat al-Nusra which changed its name to Jabhat Fateh al-Sham and announced a split from al-Qaeda.

Editing by Ava Homa

(Reporting by Ari Khalidi)