Turkish Assault Against Kurdish Forces Continues Amid Ceasefire
The commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Gen. Mazloum Abdi, has issued a grave warning over the ongoing Turkish military operation against his Kurdish forces despite a U.S. brokered ceasefire deal. The top SDF commander has warned that the persistent Turkish aggression is creating conditions that may pave the way for an ISIS resurgence.
Abdi’s alert comes amid reports of continued Turkish airstrikes against the SDF, a coalition of Kurdish, Arab, and Assyrian fighters that has been a crucial ally to the U.S. in the fight against the Islamic State. The SDF has been instrumental in the defeat of ISIS in Syria, capturing the last remaining territory held by the terrorist organization in March 2019. However, Abdi now fears that the gains made against ISIS could be reversed due to a diverted focus on resisting Turkish aggression.
Breach of the U.S. Brokered Ceasefire
Abdi’s comments are in response to the ongoing Turkish military campaign against the SDF, which Ankara regards as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) – a designated terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and the EU. The campaign has continued even after a U.S. brokered ceasefire was agreed upon in October 2020. The Turkish government has yet to respond to the accusations of violating the ceasefire agreement. 
The ceasefire, brokered by the Trump Administration, was supposed to put a halt to the Turkish military operation in northeastern Syria, a move that was widely criticized for abandoning the Kurdish allies who played a vital role in defeating ISIS. Despite the agreement, the SDF claims that Turkish forces have continued their assault, resulting in civilian casualties and displacement of people from their homes.
ISIS Resurgence: A Potent Threat
Gen. Abdi has repeatedly warned that the Turkish military operation is diverting resources away from the detention camps where thousands of ISIS fighters and their families are held. The SDF has been responsible for guarding these camps since the fall of the Islamic State’s territorial caliphate.
The fear is that the continued Turkish aggression could lead to a lapse in the security of these camps, potentially allowing ISIS fighters to break free and regroup. This concern has been echoed by numerous international observers and military officials, who have been warning of a possible resurgence of the terrorist group.
The United Nations, in a recent report, also expressed concerns about the ISIS detainees, stating that the group remains a threat and is showing signs of regrouping in both Iraq and Syria. The report further warned that an estimated 10,000 ISIS fighters, currently under SDF’s detention, could pose a significant security risk should they escape or be released.
International Response and Implications
The international community has been largely critical of Turkey’s military operation against the SDF, with several countries imposing sanctions on Ankara in response to the aggression. However, the effectiveness of these measures remains to be seen. The ongoing conflict has also raised questions about the future of U.S.-Turkey relations, given Ankara’s apparent disregard for the ceasefire agreement.
Meanwhile, the SDF and its allies continue to call for international support to halt the Turkish aggression and to maintain the gains made against ISIS. For the time being, the situation remains volatile, and the threat of an ISIS resurgence looms as a grim possibility.
As Gen. Abdi warns, the stakes are high: “If we don’t get support to manage the detention facilities, and if the Turkish military operation continues, we will have to pull more forces to the frontlines. This could lead to a security vacuum that ISIS could exploit.”
