West Increasing Support for Kurds' Separatist Goals in Eastern Syria

TEHRAN (defapress)- Western officials have intensified attempts to speed up the moves underway by the Kurdish guerrilla to decompose Syria through increased visits and helps to the regions occupied by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

News ID: 77852

Date: 23 June 2019 - 19:43

The Arabic-language al-Watan newspaper reported on Sunday that Australian Envoy John Phillip entered the town of Qamishli in line with attempts to support the Kurds' separatist moves and held a meeting with Abdulkarim Omer, the head of the Foreign Relations Commission in the Jazeera region, and his deputy Abir Ilia.

It also quoted the Kurdish sources as saying that a delegation of the Kurdish autonomous forces held a meeting with Special Envoy to Syria Geir Pedersen, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash, Norwegian Foreign Minister Marie Eriksen and US Envoy to anti-ISIL Coalition Brett McGurk in Oslo on June 18 and 19.

Meantime, the Kurdish forces formed military councils in the three occupied towns of Ain al-Arab, Tal Abyadh and al-Tabaqah to strengthen their military structure in Eastern Euphrates region in the past week after a US-Saudi delegation visited Eastern Syria.

Also, Mazloum Abdi, the SDF spokesman, claimed on Saturday that Damascus should recognize the local autonomous system, including the general department of the Northern and Eastern Syria, as well as the SDF and its full responsibility in the security and military issues in the autonomous regions.

Media reports said earlier this month that American and Saudi diplomatic delegations held a meeting with teh SDF commanders and a number of tribal leaders in a Washington-occupied base in Deir Ezzur in a bid to coordinate a plan for the separation of Eastern Euphrates from Syria.

The Arabic-language Step news website affiliated to the militants reported that recently a meeting was held between the two sides in al-Omar oilfield region in Eastern Deir Ezzur.

It added that Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Joel Rayburn, former US Ambassador to Bahrain William V. Roebuck and Thamer al-Sabhan participated in a meeting with Qassan al-Yousef and Leili al-Hassan, the co-chairs of Deir Ezzur civil administration, noting that the event was meant do coordination for supporting the SDF-occupied regions against any possible threat and political and economic support for the SDF in Northern and Northeastern Syria.

According to the report, another meeting was also held between the Arab and US delegations and a number of tribal leaders of Deir Ezzur in al-Omar base to remove differences between the tribes and the SDF and discuss financial and logistical support for the Eastern Euphrates region.

Meantime, the Arabic-language Xeber 24 news website reported that al-Sabhan conveyed a message from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on his full support for militants in Northeastern Syria.

Syria affairs analysts are concerned about the US-Saudi plan to cut off Eastern Euphrates from the mainland, saying that the Saudi minister has paid some money to the tribal leaders to coax them into cooperation with the Kurdish militia and support for Riyadh's influence in the region.

The US has increased military support for the Kurds in Eastern Syria in recent months.

Message end/