عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Arab World

US Voices Concern over Intra-Kurdish Tension in Northeastern Syria

An American military vehicle seen in the Qamishli countryside in northeastern Syria, April 20, 2022. (AFP)
An American military vehicle seen in the Qamishli countryside in northeastern Syria, April 20, 2022. (AFP)
    Qamishli, Damascus, Washington - Kamal Sheikho and Asharq Al-Awsat
TT
20
TT

US Voices Concern over Intra-Kurdish Tension in Northeastern Syria

An American military vehicle seen in the Qamishli countryside in northeastern Syria, April 20, 2022. (AFP)
An American military vehicle seen in the Qamishli countryside in northeastern Syria, April 20, 2022. (AFP)

The US Embassy in Syria voiced its concern over the recent attacks on the Kurdish National Council (KNC) offices in northeast Syria.

“The United States is deeply concerned by the recent attacks on several KNC offices in northeast Syria,” the embassy said in a statement on Friday.

“Intimidation and violence have no place in political discourse, and we urge all parties to engage peacefully in pursuit of resolutions that benefit all concerned,” it added.

In response, the General Council of the Syrian Democratic Union Party denied responsibility for the attack.

In a statement, the council said the Turkish raid on the strongholds of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in the Qandil Mountains of the Kurdistan region of Iraq fell within “the comprehensive attack on our people and freedom fighters by the Turkish fascism.”

It continued: “Instead of [the Kurdish Council] standing up against this policy of genocide, it accuses our party of burning its offices…”

The party also pointed to the violations committed by the pro-Turkish Syrian armed factions in the areas of Turkish influence in northern Syria.

“The [Kurdish Council] has not yet dared to make a statement against the Turkish occupation… and is still affiliated to the Syrian coalition that practices a policy of extermination against our people in Afrin and Ras al-Ain (Sarkani)…,” according to the statement.

Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that an Iranian commander, along with other leaders and members of Iranian-backed militias, met with supporters of the state security service and elders of the Tayih tribe in Al-Qamishli city in Al-Hasakah countryside.

According to Observatory sources, the meeting discussed the establishment of a military council under the supervision of Iranian advisers in order to confront the deployment of American and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the areas east of the Euphrates.

The rights monitor noted that the meeting was held as a part of Iranian efforts to expand in Syria and lure regime affiliates to work for them, with Russia being preoccupied with its war in Ukraine.

Separately, the local Ein al-Euphrates Network said a number of fighters of the Russian Wagner militia arrived in the Abu Rasin district, located in the far north of al-Hasakah governorate, amid an escalation of Turkish attacks in the area.

The network indicated that the SDF General Command demanded that the Russian forces deployed in al-Hasakah reinforce their positions, following attacks by Turkish drones on SDF positions and military checkpoints.

Most Viewed

 
Arab World

Lebanon at Risk as Iran Uses Its Airspace, Israel Responds

Passengers stranded in the departure hall of Rafik Hariri International Airport following flight delays (DPA)
Passengers stranded in the departure hall of Rafik Hariri International Airport following flight delays (DPA)
TT
20
TT

Lebanon at Risk as Iran Uses Its Airspace, Israel Responds

Passengers stranded in the departure hall of Rafik Hariri International Airport following flight delays (DPA)
Passengers stranded in the departure hall of Rafik Hariri International Airport following flight delays (DPA)

Lebanon found itself entangled in the latest flare-up between Israel and Iran, as its skies became a battleground for Iranian missiles and drones, and Israeli interceptor rockets throughout Friday night and into Saturday morning.

Residents across several towns and cities endured a tense and sleepless night, fearing the fallout of missiles potentially crashing into populated areas.

The country’s airspace, which was shut down Friday evening as a security precaution, was reopened at 10 a.m. on Saturday.

Minister of Public Works and Transport, Fayez Rasamny, speaking from Beirut’s international airport during an inspection visit, said the facility would remain open “unless an emergency beyond our control arises”.

The Ministry of Public Works said in a statement that the airspace closure and accompanying emergency measures were taken “strictly for security reasons,” stressing that “the safety of passengers and airport facilities remains a top priority.”

Middle East Airlines (MEA), Lebanon’s national carrier, rescheduled several flights to and from Beirut after passengers were left stranded overnight at the airport due to cancellations and delays.

Lebanon’s skies have become a corridor for conflict in the intensifying Israeli-Iranian standoff, sparking growing fears among Lebanese officials and analysts who warn the country is losing control over its own airspace - and may be paying the price.

Beirut lacks the leverage to deter Iran from using its airspace to launch attacks on Israel, nor can it stop Israeli forces from intercepting drones and missiles mid-flight over Lebanese territory.

With Iranian projectiles and Israeli countermeasures crossing through the same skies, experts warn Lebanon faces mounting military and civilian risks as long as it remains entangled in the regional confrontation.

“The passage of Iranian missiles and drones through Lebanese airspace toward Israel presents serious military and security threats on multiple levels,” retired Brigadier General Saeed Al-Qazaz told Asharq Al-Awsat.

He warned that turning Lebanon into a de facto battleground increases the risk of missiles falling into populated areas -- as seen in the Bekaa Valley during the overnight bombardment between Friday and Saturday.

“Israeli attempts to intercept these threats over Lebanon could result in casualties on the ground, whether due to guidance malfunctions or fuel depletion. The fragmentation of these weapons is just as dangerous as a direct hit,” explained Al-Qazaz.

One missile reportedly landed late Friday in the outskirts of Beit Shama, west of Baalbek, sending shockwaves through the valley and stoking fears of further fallout.

Airspace Safety and Legal Concerns

Al-Qazaz also voiced grave concern over aviation safety, saying Lebanon’s crowded airspace could become a deadly zone for civilian aircraft.

“There is an immediate threat to air navigation, and the risk of a commercial aircraft being struck is real. That justifies the need to close the airspace entirely in such circumstances,” he said.

Using the airspace of a sovereign nation without consent, he added, constitutes “a flagrant violation of international law,” citing the 1944 Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation, which affirms a state’s sovereignty over its own skies.

He stressed that the Lebanese government bears responsibility and “must not allow missiles and drones to pass through its airspace without taking action”. International legal liability could arise if any damage is caused to third countries by these aerial operations.

At the same time, Al-Qazaz pointed out a double standard: “While Israel uses the airspace of Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq without consequence, these countries fail to respond or prevent such actions. Jordan, however, has recently intercepted projectiles to avoid international accountability”.

Calls for International Action

Despite Lebanon’s limited capacity to influence either side in the conflict, Al-Qazaz said the government could still lodge a formal complaint with the UN Security Council over repeated airspace violations.

“Lebanon can protest to the international community over the use of its skies by both Israel and Iran, even if no concrete outcome is expected,” he said.

“But remaining silent while missiles continue to pass overhead exposes Lebanon to greater danger, undermines its sovereignty, and drags it further into a military confrontation it did not choose”.

As tensions simmer and skies remain contested, Lebanon finds itself navigating a high-stakes crisis with few tools to shield its people, or its sovereignty.