3 KILLED 31 WOUNDED DURING SYRIAN ARMY-KURDS CLASH IN ALEPPO

Written by Michael Thervil

3 KILLED 31 WOUNDED DURING SYRIAN ARMY-KURDS CLASH IN ALEPPO | PHOTO BY AP

[Syrian Army Kurds] Fighting resumed between the Syrian Army and the American backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) earlier yesterday in Aleppo yesterday leaving 31 people severely wounded and three people killed as both sides struggle to assert influence and dominance in Syria. With seven days left before a national ceasefire was supposed to be declared, it appears that neither side will allow themselves to be dominated.  Both the Syrian Democratic Forces and the Syrian army are seeking to establish military and civil institutions that will be recognized as part of the current Syrian government. It was also reported that heavy damage occurred during the intense SDF artillery shelling in Aleppo. Both sides are accusing the other of firing first, which lead to the current level of escalated violence.

Many geopolitical analysts are asking what America’s true role in Syria is as both sides have decided to stop attacking each other late yesterday. It is predicted that the temporary cease fire between the SDF and the Syrian army will be short lived. While fighting between the factions have begun to simmer down, there are talks being conducted in which there is the huge possibility of “merging the 50,000 SDF fighters into three divisions, with partial Syrian control”.

Neighboring country Türkiye to the north, who has been recently accused of seeking to reestablish the Ottoman Empire has expressed not only opposition of the American led SDF to be incorporated in the Syrian Army but has also designated the SDF to be a terrorist organization because of their link to the PPK (Partiya Karkerên Kurdistanê/Kurdistan Workers' Party) who is also deemed as a terrorist organization. Türkiye also opposes the SDF due to America's involvement in funding and using the SDF as proxy war fighters.

It should be noted that the PPK executed a deadly ambush at the state ran defense company TUSAS, located in Kahramankazan, Ankara, the capital of Türkiye last year which left 5 people killed and 20 people injured. For many, the lack of confidence in either side to adhere to any kind of ceasefire or deal is the sole reason why the fighting between the two factions has been perpetual in nature over time.