The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), led by the Kurdish militia Popular Protection Units (YPG), announced Thursday the launch of a new offensive against Islamic State, days after the death of six of its members in an attack by the jihadist group against a prison in the city of Raqqa (north).
The SDF said in a statement that the operation has been launched with support from the U.S.-led international coalition to «eliminate Islamic State terrorist cells and clear terrorist strongholds in areas that were the source of recent terrorist attacks.»
Thus, they detailed that this offensive, called operation ‘Jazira Thunderbolt’, «reconfirms the determination of the SDF in stepping up its fight» against the jihadist group. Jazira is one of the regions of the Kurdish autonomous administration in Syria.
«This operation, which comes in the context of absolute necessity and in response to the blood of our martyrs in Raqqa, will be the beginning of operations against Islamic State in 2023. Our forces will act with firmness and determination to confront any threat,» they stressed.
In this regard, they have again criticized Turkey for its attacks against Kurdish groups in northern Syria and regretted that «the terrorist cells of the Islamic State» have taken advantage of this situation to «spread their brutality and increase their criminal activity».
«Islamic State cells have increased their rearmament and financing activities,» he detailed, before stressing that «this demonstrates the intention of Islamic State to take advantage of every circumstance to activate its cells and carry out more terrorist attacks.»
The SDF and the US-led coalition resumed in early December their joint operations, briefly suspended by the Kurdish forces because of Turkish bombardments against their positions.
Turkey launched operation ‘Sword Claw’ on November 21, a bombing campaign against Kurdish groups following the November 13 bombing in the Turkish city of Istanbul, which left six dead and more than 80 wounded.
The Turkish government has blamed the Istanbul bombing on the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and said that the main suspect had received orders from the Kurdish-Syrian militia People’s Protection Units (YPG) – the main element of the SDF – although both the PKK and the SDF have disassociated themselves from the attack.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
