The United States’ support for Kurdish-led militants from the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the Arab country continues with the latest delivery of dozens of truckloads of weapons and military equipment.
Local and media sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Syria’s official news agency SANA that the US convoy, comprised of various types of ammunition, military equipment and logistics, entered Syria’s al-Jazirah region through the Semalka border crossing, which is a pontoon bridge across the Tigris.
The sources added that the trucks were observed early on Thursday while they were passing by Syria’s northeastern city of Qamishli.
The trucks were apparently coming from the town of al-Malikiyah, which lies about 20 kilometers (12 miles) west of the Tigris River, and heading towards the northwestern sector of Syria’s province of Hasakah, where SDF militants are active.
Back on September 26, a US convoy laden with munitions, armored vehicles and heavy military equipment entered Syria from northern Iraq through the Semalka border crossing to reinforce SDF militants in al-Jazirah region.
Also on Thursday, local sources told SANA that the US-led coalition purportedly fighting the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group had carried out an operation in the town of Markadah, and arrested in cooperation with SDF patrols a high-profile Daesh terrorist. The Takfiri militant was later released in return for money.
Civil and media sources, requesting anonymity, told SANA on September 22 that SDF militants had received 175 truckloads of weapons and munitions dispatched by the United States, irrespective of condemnation by Damascus of the “criminal and repressive” actions of the forces.
The sources added that the convoy came from northern Iraq through the Semalka border crossing to the militants’ positions in provinces of Hasakah, Raqqah and Dayr al-Zawr.
On September 15, Syria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, in identical letters sent to United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres and the rotating President of the UN Security Council Vasily Nebenzya, announced that SDF militants continue their terrorist and criminal measures against Syrians in Hasakah, Dayr al-Zawr, Raqqah and Aleppo.
The letters stated that the militants are backed by the United States and the US-led coalition purportedly fighting Daesh, who provide them with military, logistic, financial and political support.
“That goes in line with schemes being carried out by some states subservient to the United States and being concocted by the authorities of the Zionist regime (of Israel) in utter disregard of Security Council resolutions, which underline the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria and unity of its people,” the letters read.
The Syrian ministry went on to say that not only do SDF militants take part in crimes being perpetrated by the US-led coalition against Syrian people, but they also kidnap, torture, murder and displace civilians.
The US has long been providing the SDF with arms and militant training, calling them a key partner in the purported fight against Daesh. Many observers, however, see the support in the context of Washington’s plans to carve out a foothold in the Arab country.
Such support has also angered Washington’s NATO ally, Turkey, which views militants from the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) – the backbone of the SDF – as a terrorist organization tied to the homegrown Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) that has been waging a destructive war inside Turkey for decades.
