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Iraqi Kurds join fight against ISIS in Kobani
Free Syrian Army fighters return to Turkey after dispute with Kurdish leaders
The battle for the border town has also demonstrated the Turkish government’s unease at the presence of autonomous Kurdish regions and fighters on its borders.
As a precondition for allowing Iraqi Peshmerga to reinforce the town, Ankara insisted that they be accompanied by fighters from the armed wing of Syria’s Western-backed Syrian opposition, the Free Syrian Army (FSA).
However, sources say that this had led to friction between the FSA and Kurdish fighters.
A senior source within the Supreme Military Council of the FSA, who requested anonymity because he were not authorized to brief the media, told Asharq Al-Awsat, however, that there were currently disputes between the FSA and the Kurdish fighters from the YPG.
The source said around 20 of the original 52 FSA fighters who had joined the fight just days ago had now left the area as a result of the disputes, adding that they had now re-entered Turkish territory.
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, a senior source from the YPG did not confirm or deny the allegations, saying only that “the FSA fighters who joined us [the YPG] recently in Kobani were motivated more by political goals than military ones,” accusing them of following orders from Ankara.
The source added: “The group of FSA fighters who have been with us from the beginning of the battle [for Kobani] are still by our side, and around 30 of them have been killed in the fighting. But those who joined recently, who are under the leadership of Gen. Abdul Jabbar Al-Akidi and came [already] supplied with weapons, are still hesitant and have not yet decided whether to join the fight or not, despite our opening the door fully to any help they might offer.”
In contrast, Munthir Silal, a member of the opposition Syrian Council for the Protection of the Revolution, told Asharq Al-Awsat around 200 fighters under the leadership of Gen. Akidi had entered the fight in Kobani in the last two days.
Speaking of the accusations the source from the YPG had leveled at some of the FSA fighters under Akidi, he said: “Maybe it is in the Kurds’ interest to devalue the role the FSA is playing [in the fight]. It is they who did not want the FSA’s presence, [and the FSA would not have entered the fight] if it wasn’t for Turkish pressure.”
He added: “Despite all this, we want to ensure everyone that our [FSA] fighters in Kobani are in good shape and are getting ready to enter the battle in Kobani with full force, since the fight for the town is now getting a lot of attention and support, and [victory there] can therefore act as a springboard for the liberation of the towns of Manbij, Jarabulus and Tel Abyad [from ISIS].”
Iraqi Kurds join fight against ISIS in Kobani « ASHARQ AL-AWSAT
Free Syrian Army fighters return to Turkey after dispute with Kurdish leaders
The battle for the border town has also demonstrated the Turkish government’s unease at the presence of autonomous Kurdish regions and fighters on its borders.
As a precondition for allowing Iraqi Peshmerga to reinforce the town, Ankara insisted that they be accompanied by fighters from the armed wing of Syria’s Western-backed Syrian opposition, the Free Syrian Army (FSA).
However, sources say that this had led to friction between the FSA and Kurdish fighters.
A senior source within the Supreme Military Council of the FSA, who requested anonymity because he were not authorized to brief the media, told Asharq Al-Awsat, however, that there were currently disputes between the FSA and the Kurdish fighters from the YPG.
The source said around 20 of the original 52 FSA fighters who had joined the fight just days ago had now left the area as a result of the disputes, adding that they had now re-entered Turkish territory.
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, a senior source from the YPG did not confirm or deny the allegations, saying only that “the FSA fighters who joined us [the YPG] recently in Kobani were motivated more by political goals than military ones,” accusing them of following orders from Ankara.
The source added: “The group of FSA fighters who have been with us from the beginning of the battle [for Kobani] are still by our side, and around 30 of them have been killed in the fighting. But those who joined recently, who are under the leadership of Gen. Abdul Jabbar Al-Akidi and came [already] supplied with weapons, are still hesitant and have not yet decided whether to join the fight or not, despite our opening the door fully to any help they might offer.”
In contrast, Munthir Silal, a member of the opposition Syrian Council for the Protection of the Revolution, told Asharq Al-Awsat around 200 fighters under the leadership of Gen. Akidi had entered the fight in Kobani in the last two days.
Speaking of the accusations the source from the YPG had leveled at some of the FSA fighters under Akidi, he said: “Maybe it is in the Kurds’ interest to devalue the role the FSA is playing [in the fight]. It is they who did not want the FSA’s presence, [and the FSA would not have entered the fight] if it wasn’t for Turkish pressure.”
He added: “Despite all this, we want to ensure everyone that our [FSA] fighters in Kobani are in good shape and are getting ready to enter the battle in Kobani with full force, since the fight for the town is now getting a lot of attention and support, and [victory there] can therefore act as a springboard for the liberation of the towns of Manbij, Jarabulus and Tel Abyad [from ISIS].”
Iraqi Kurds join fight against ISIS in Kobani « ASHARQ AL-AWSAT