Rebel fighters prepare to topple the statue of Bassel al-Assad, the older brother of President Bashar al-Assad. (Credit: Mohammad Haj Kadour/AFP)
A renewed offensive by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) against the Syrian regime has thrust the country's Kurdish factions back into the crosshairs. While HTC claims its fight is solely with Assad's forces and their Russian and Iranian allies, pro-Turkish rebel groups within the offensive have reignited hostilities with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).This resurgence of conflict comes despite HTS's insistence that Kurdish forces "are an integral part of Syria and have the same rights as all other citizens." However, on the ground, clashes have erupted between the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) and the SDF, which is dominated by the YPG militia.Ankara considers the YPG an extension of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which it designates as a terrorist organization. The SDF, a key U.S. ally in the fight against...
A renewed offensive by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) against the Syrian regime has thrust the country's Kurdish factions back into the crosshairs. While HTC claims its fight is solely with Assad's forces and their Russian and Iranian allies, pro-Turkish rebel groups within the offensive have reignited hostilities with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).This resurgence of conflict comes despite HTS's insistence that Kurdish forces "are an integral part of Syria and have the same rights as all other citizens." However, on the ground, clashes have erupted between the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) and the SDF, which is dominated by the YPG militia.Ankara considers the YPG an extension of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which it designates as a terrorist organization. The SDF, a key U.S. ally in the fight against...