Power battle after Assad’s fall: Syrian authorities advances into Kurdish areas – dispute over withdrawal settlement escalates | EUROtoday

Syrian authorities troops have taken management of areas within the north and east of the nation in a speedy advance. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) had beforehand withdrawn its troops from areas that they had beforehand held. There have been additionally skirmishes. The SDF is taken into account an vital ally of the USA within the battle towards the terrorist militia Islamic State (IS).

The Syrian state information company Sana reported that authorities troops had taken the northern city of Tabka and the Euphrates dam. This is the most important dam within the nation.

Government troops additionally captured a number of villages within the jap Syrian province of Deir al-Sur after SDF fighters withdrew from the realm, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported. The SDF additionally withdrew from the big oil fields of al-Omar and al-Tanak, which have been then taken over by authorities troops. The Observatory, based mostly in Great Britain, obtains its data from a community of native informants.

Battle for vital Tishrin dam

Meanwhile, SDF troops mentioned they managed to repel three tried assaults by fighters allied with authorities forces within the space of ​​the Tishrin Dam in northern Syria. Two tanks and a number of other different army autos have been destroyed. The preventing continued there, the assertion mentioned. The dam is vital for water and electrical energy. Control over it brings political, financial and army benefits.

The advance by authorities troops into Kurdish-controlled areas adopted an internationally brokered withdrawal settlement introduced on Friday by SDF chief Maslum Abdi to defuse tensions between the 2 sides.

The resolution to withdraw was made as a gesture of goodwill, defined Abdi. It is a part of the dedication to implement an settlement concluded final 12 months that gives for the mixing of the SDF into authorities troops after the overthrow of long-time Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad.

However, the SDF accused the Damascus-based authorities of violating the settlement and advancing into areas not coated by the settlement.

The US Middle East Regional Command (Centcom) headquarters had beforehand known as on Syrian authorities forces to cease any offensive operations within the areas between Aleppo and Tabka. In the battle towards the terrorist militia IS, coordinated cooperation with Syrian companions is important, mentioned a press release from Centcom commander Brad Cooper.

Mutual blame after battles

There had beforehand been preventing between Kurdish militias and authorities troops southeast of Aleppo. The SDF accused the interim authorities of a “sneaky attack”. The Syrian military, for its half, mentioned its troops had been attacked. The interim authorities accuses the SDF of tolerating supporters of the ousted Assad authorities and PKK members.

Observers concern ongoing tensions between Kurdish forces and the federal government might result in a wider battle.